Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The line graph illustrate the information of number of jobs in four different sectors in United State Economy in year 1960 to 2020.

Overall, Retail and Health Care sector increase dramatically whereas Manufacturing sector fluctuate throught out the years on the other hand Agriculture sectors jobs decrease slowly.

The Health Care Sector start from under the 5% in 1960 whereas Retail Sector start from aproximately more than 5% in 2020 both sector rose signficantly through out the year and contribute in U.S Economy as jobs above than 15%.

The Manufature Sectore begin with about 15% in 1960, before nearly 20% in 1980 which than decrease to under the 15% in 2020

The Agriculture Sectore begin with 5% and drop through out the year through 2020 at

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the broad trends: retail and healthcare rise, while agriculture declines, and manufacturing peaks before falling. However, the report is only partial and some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, healthcare starts at about 2 million jobs, not merely “under the 5%,” and retail starts at about 6 million in 1960—not in 2020. The chart measures jobs in millions, but you repeatedly use percentages. The agriculture description is unfinished, and the comparison of the two rising sectors is not fully explained. The response is also 24 words below the required minimum. To strengthen the report, give a clear overview and support it with accurate start, peak and end figures for each sector.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview and separate comments on the sectors. This gives the reader some sense of how the information is organised. However, progression is limited because the details are not consistently grouped or compared, and the final sentence stops abruptly at “through 2020 at,” leaving the agriculture trend incomplete. Linking phrases such as “whereas” and “before” are attempted, but the long overview sentence joins contrasting trends awkwardly, while “through out the year” is repeated. Use complete paragraphs with a clear sequence—for example, describe the rising sectors together, then the declining or fluctuating sectors—and finish each point with a relevant comparison.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “increase,” “decrease,” “fluctuate,” “begin” and “drop,” so the main trends can generally be understood. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate. “Number of jobs” is more appropriate than “information of number of jobs,” and “contribute in U.S Economy as jobs above than 15%” is difficult to interpret. The repeated use of “sector” and “through out” also reduces precision, while spelling errors such as “signficantly” and “Manufature” are noticeable. Use precise terms such as “employment,” “rose steadily,” and “fell to,” and ensure that the unit is expressed as “million jobs,” not percentages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences, including “The Manufature Sectore begin with about 15% in 1960, before nearly 20% in 1980,” but control is inconsistent. Subject–verb agreement errors occur in “The line graph illustrate” and “The Health Care Sector start”; these should use “illustrates” and “starts.” The manufacturing sentence also lacks a clear verb after “before,” and the final sentence is incomplete. Articles, plurals and sentence boundaries need attention, as in “Agriculture sectors jobs decrease slowly.” Most sentences rely on simple patterns, and errors sometimes make relationships between figures difficult to follow. Practise complete comparative sentences with accurate past-tense verbs, such as “Manufacturing employment rose to 20 million in 1980 before falling.”

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