Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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 provided line graph delineates the number of jobs in four sectors in the US between 1960 to 2020. From this, we can know about the 60 years four sectors of the economy in the US.

The manufacturing sector achieved the highest figure in 1980 among the 4 sectors. Consequently, Retail sector's and health care sector's figures soared in every year. Moreover, Agriculture sector's figure fall in every year.

In 1960, manufacturing sector's figure was 15 million but in the last last it was less than 15 million. In 1960, retail sector's figure was 6 million but it increased dramatically. At the end, it's figure was more than 15 million and it was the highest figure in 2020. Agriculture sector's figure declined in every year. In 2020, this figure was less than 5 million. Health care depatment had developed or had achieved highest figure very quick. In 1960, figure was less tha 5 million but at the end it was more than 15 millions.

As a result, I can understand that retail sector and health care sector is the most powerful sector at this moment. It develpe

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several relevant trends: manufacturing peaks in 1980, retail and healthcare rise, and agriculture declines. You also give some figures, such as manufacturing at 15 million in 1960 and retail at 6 million. However, the overview is incomplete and some claims are inaccurate: retail did not rise in every period, since it was level with agriculture at 6 million in 1960, and healthcare did not have the highest figure in 2020; it was tied with retail at about 16 million. The final statement about the sectors being “most powerful” is not supported by the graph, and the response ends with an unfinished idea. To strengthen the report, give a clear overview of the main comparisons and describe the key figures more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction to general trends and then to details. Some linking words, including “Moreover” and “As a result,” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear: the second paragraph makes broad claims, while the next repeats the same trends without organising the sectors or time periods systematically. “Consequently” does not express a clear relationship between the manufacturing peak and the other sectors, and “From this” is an unclear reference. The conclusion introduces an unsupported judgement and stops abruptly at “It develpe.” Grouping the information into an overview followed by a logical comparison of rising and falling sectors would make the report easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “sector,” “figure,” “declined,” and “increased dramatically,” so the reader can generally understand the topic and direction of change. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for describing a graph. “The number of jobs” is often reduced to “figure,” and “the most powerful sector” does not accurately describe employment data. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “depatment,” “develpe,” and “less tha,” which reduce the polish of the report. Use precise terms for employment levels and trends, and check spelling carefully. The suggestions below offer alternatives for some of the less effective phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

Most sentences use simple structures, and the main meaning is usually recoverable, but grammatical errors occur frequently. For example, “between 1960 to 2020” uses the wrong preposition pattern; write “between 1960 and 2020.” In “Agriculture sector’s figure fall,” the verb does not agree with the singular subject, and “retail sector and health care sector is” also needs plural agreement. The phrase “in the last last” is malformed, while “it was less than 15 million” has an unclear reference. There is little variety in sentence structure, and the final sentence is incomplete. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and subject–verb agreement, then combine related comparisons in controlled complex sentences.

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