Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-26

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 4.0)

The line graph compares the number of jobs in four different economies sectors in the economic sectors in the United States from 1960 to 2020.

Overall,it is clear that the number of job from the retail and healthcare sectors went up sign

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the chart as a comparison of employment sectors in the United States and begins an overview by noting that retail and healthcare jobs increased. However, it stops before completing that point (“went up sign…”) and gives no figures, comparisons, or account of manufacturing and agriculture. As a result, the main features of the graph are largely unreported, and the overview is incomplete. The response also falls substantially short of the required 150 words, leaving too little information to summarise the data. To improve, complete the overview and report the major contrasts: manufacturing peaks in 1980 before declining, agriculture falls, while retail and healthcare rise; include selected figures to support these trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence introduces the graph, followed by a sentence beginning “Overall,” which signals an overview. This gives the reader a minimal sense of the intended structure. However, the response ends mid-sentence, so the overview is not completed and there is no developed sequence of details or comparisons. The transition from introduction to overview is also the only clear linking move. A complete report should use separate paragraphs for the overview and key data, then group related trends logically—for example, rising sectors together and declining sectors together. Finish each sentence and use clear links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile” where they help show comparisons.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few relevant terms, including “line graph,” “number of jobs,” “retail,” and “healthcare,” so the topic is recognisable. However, the vocabulary is very limited and includes awkward or inaccurate phrasing: “four different economies sectors in the economic sectors” repeats the same idea, while “went up sign” is incomplete and does not communicate the intended trend precisely. There is no range of language for describing changes, levels, or comparisons because the report is unfinished. Use concise chart language such as “employment,” “rose steadily,” “declined,” “reached a peak,” and “remained stable,” ensuring each phrase fits the data. Avoid repeating “sectors” unnecessarily.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The opening sentence shows a basic attempt at a complete clause, and “Overall” introduces a second sentence. However, grammatical control is limited in this short sample. The phrase “four different economies sectors” has an incorrect noun form and word order, and “the number of job” uses a singular noun where a plural is needed. The second sentence is incomplete, ending with “went up sign,” so it lacks a finished grammatical structure. There is also no space after the comma in “Overall,it.” To improve, check noun forms and sentence completion, for example: “The graph compares the number of jobs in four economic sectors in the United States.” Build a full overview sentence and use accurate past-tense verbs to describe the period.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.