Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-23

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 5.5)

The below line chart illustrate the information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the United-State in period 1960 to till 2020.

Initially, the chat shows the number of jobs in 1960 at Healthcare department is around 2.5 million and that was not very good but it rise suprisingly to 15 millions of seats. On the other hand, the agriculture department was not going very well the number of jobs fell in 1960 the jobs are about 6 million but time to time this department face crises and it fell almost at zero in 2020.

The sector of manufacturing are highly in demand from starting in 1960 jobs were around 15 million and in 1980 it rose and the number of jobs became 20 million but time to time this sector also face crises and jobs went at 13 million from 20 million. The last and well mentain sector is retail it grew faster the jobs were about 6 million at begening and with time it rose to 16 million in 2020.

In conclusion, all the sectors face difficulties but retail workers grew faster.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify all four sectors and report several relevant trends, including manufacturing peaking at 20 million before declining to 13 million, and retail rising to 16 million. However, some key details are inaccurate: healthcare reaches about 16 million in 2020, not 15 million, and agriculture ends at about 2 million rather than almost zero. The overview is also limited: saying that all sectors “face difficulties” does not capture the contrasting overall patterns, especially the strong growth in healthcare and retail and the decline in agriculture. To strengthen the response, give a clear overview of these main trends and compare the sectors’ final figures more accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction to descriptions of sectors and a concluding sentence. Grouping healthcare with agriculture and then discussing manufacturing and retail gives the reader some organisation. However, progression is not consistently clear: the first body paragraph shifts between two sectors, and phrases such as “time to time” and “on the other hand” do not always express the relationship between the data accurately. The conclusion repeats a broad claim rather than drawing together the main comparisons. Use one paragraph for the overall picture and organise details into clear comparisons, with linking expressions that show contrast or change precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “rose,” “fell,” “grew faster,” and “in demand.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a chart description, such as “number of jobs ... at Healthcare department,” “15 millions of seats,” and “face crises.” Spelling errors, including “suprisingly,” “mentain,” and “begening,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise terms such as “employment,” “sector,” “increased,” and “declined,” and avoid interpreting the figures as evidence of demand or crises when the graph only shows job numbers. Check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make the intended meaning harder to follow. For example, “The below line chart illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “in period 1960 to till 2020” has an incomplete and awkward time expression. Tense and sentence construction are also problematic in “the jobs are about 6 million but time to time this department face crises.” Use the past tense consistently for this historical data, and check articles, plurals, and agreement. Shorter, accurately formed sentences would help; then practise combining them with clauses such as “while” or “whereas” to show comparisons.

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