Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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 illustrates about the information of different jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the four sectors include manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare. Therefore, comparisons off all four features, the retail and healthcare increase in all years contantasly, others agriculture and manufacturing was lowest record in all years.

Firstly, in 1960 the manufacturing was record 15 % increase in number of jobs, then in 1980 it was increase 20 % but afterthat in 2000 it was decreased and then in 2020 it was lowest in economy sector.

Secondly, in 1960 the retail was record 5 % increase in number of jobs, then in 1980 it was fastly increase 10% then next other years it was rose fastly in every sector of jobs

Thirdly, in 1960 to 2020 years the agriculture was record slowly declined in every four sectors, then the last one healthcare sector in the US from 1960 to 202

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the four sectors and include some relevant figures, such as manufacturing at 15 million in 1960 and 20 million in 1980, and retail reaching 10 million in 1980. However, the overview is unclear and contains inaccurate comparisons: retail and healthcare did not both rise continuously at every point, while manufacturing was not the lowest sector throughout. The graph shows manufacturing peaking at 20 million before declining, retail rising to 16 million, healthcare climbing from 2 to 16 million, and agriculture falling to 2 million. Several trends are left incomplete, especially healthcare, and the final sentence breaks off. Select the main patterns accurately and compare the ending values as well as the starting points.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an opening, an attempted overview, and separate paragraphs introduced by “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Thirdly,” so there is some organisation and the reader can recognise a sector-by-sector approach. However, progression is difficult to follow because the overview makes confusing claims and the body paragraphs do not consistently complete their comparisons. Phrases such as “then next other years” and “in every sector of jobs” do not clearly connect to specific years or data. The healthcare discussion is unfinished, leaving the report without a complete ending. Use a clear overview followed by logically grouped comparisons, and make each paragraph a complete unit of information rather than relying mainly on ordinal linkers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “manufacturing,” “retail,” “agriculture,” “healthcare,” “increase,” and “declined,” which helps identify the graph’s subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the meaning unclear. For example, “record 15% increase” incorrectly suggests a percentage change, although the figures represent millions of jobs; “fastly increase” and “rose fastly” are not natural expressions; and “comparisons off all four features” is difficult to understand. There are also spelling or form problems such as “contantasly.” Aim for precise trend language and use the unit consistently, for example, “15 million jobs,” “rose steadily,” and “fell gradually.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the time references show an effort to describe change across several years. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors often make relationships between events difficult to understand. Examples include “the retail and healthcare increase,” “manufacturing was record,” and “it was increase 20%,” where verb forms and agreement are faulty. Articles and sentence construction are also problematic in “in 1960 the manufacturing,” while the final clause, “from 1960 to 202,” is incomplete. Practise forming accurate past-tense trend sentences, such as “Manufacturing rose to 20 million in 1980 before declining,” and check that every sentence has a complete subject and verb.

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