Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The line graph chart illustrates the number of jobs in four sector of the US economy namely Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Healthcare from 1990 and 2020.

Overall, the total number of jobs in four sectors economy up and down. Manufacturing increased instantly before declining, while retail and healthcare experienced upward trends. Healthcare always increased over the period. Agriculture showed downward trend throughout the period.

In 1960, manufacturing employe started at 15 million then increased approximately 20 million in 1980, before falling around 16 million in 2000. After that, the total number of economy dropped farther to rawly 12 million. Retail employe, one the other hand, approximately it started around 5 million in 1960. Which is increased at 10 million in 1980. In 2000 it growth around 15 million, becoming the largest sector over the period.

Healthcare also showed a considerable increased in employment. It began started in 1960 approximately around 3 million. Which can increased at 5 million in 1980, before it constantly rose around 11 million in 2000. After that it sharply rose around 15 million in2020. By contrast, Agriculture employe started at 6 million in 1960. Which can be decreased sharply around 2.5 million in 1980, remained similar level in 2000. Finally, it decreased approximately 1 million in 2020, making agriculture the smallest employment sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main patterns and provide a clear overview: manufacturing rises to a peak before falling, retail and healthcare grow, and agriculture declines. Most reported figures broadly match the graph, including manufacturing’s peak of about 20 million and healthcare’s rise to around 11 million by 2000. This covers the task well, and the comparison that healthcare and retail are the largest sectors by 2020 is also relevant. However, the opening says the period is “from 1990 and 2020,” although the graph begins in 1960, and the claim that retail became the largest sector in 2000 is inaccurate: manufacturing was still higher then. Some details are also imprecise, particularly the final agriculture figure, which is about 2 million rather than 1 million. More precise comparisons would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate detail on the sectors. The sequence from 1960 through 2020 generally helps the reader follow the changes, and contrast markers such as “while” and “By contrast” show an attempt to connect trends. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear. Several sentences begin with “Which,” as in “Which is increased at 10 million,” leaving them as fragments and weakening the links between ideas. The retail discussion also says it became the largest sector in 2000, interrupting the otherwise chronological comparison. Grouping the sectors more deliberately—for example, comparing manufacturing with retail, then healthcare with agriculture—and using complete, clearly linked sentences would make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing trends, including “increased,” “declining,” “upward trends,” “remained similar,” and “sharply rose.” These choices make the main movements understandable. However, the range and control are limited by repeated general terms and several inaccurate or unnatural expressions. “Increased instantly” does not describe the manufacturing rise appropriately, while “total number of economy” is unclear because the graph shows jobs in individual sectors. There are also word-form and spelling problems, such as “employe” and “rawly,” and awkward combinations such as “a considerable increased.” Aim for precise trend language and accurate sector-related nouns, and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses with “before” and “while,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, control is inconsistent, especially in verb forms and sentence construction. Examples include “Manufacturing increased instantly before declining” (the word choice is addressed separately), “Which is increased at 10 million,” and “Healthcare also showed a considerable increased.” The repeated “Which” clauses are fragments rather than complete sentences, and “It began started” contains an unnecessary second verb. There are also tense and agreement problems in phrases such as “Agriculture employe started” and “Which can be decreased.” Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and correctly inflected verb, while varying structures without sacrificing accuracy.

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