Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the us . Generally, the health care sector and retailing sector are the same highest point in the last year.

Let me begin by describing the graph , it can be seen that the line of manufacturing sector is at 15 millions in the year 1960 . In 1980 the line is plateaued at 20 millions. Meanwhile, the line of retailing sector shows that is around 5 millions in the year 1960 but in 2020 it is peaked around 15 millions .Similarly, it can be seen that the line is around 5 millions in 1960 and it slowly went down around 2 million . By contrast healthcare sector is at the lowest point in the year 1960 which is around 3 millions and it went up around 16 millions .

Overall, by the end of the year the lowest point is found to be the sector of agriculture sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four sectors and include several relevant figures, such as manufacturing at 15 million in 1960 and 20 million in 1980, and healthcare reaching about 16 million in 2020. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: healthcare and retail are tied at the highest level in 2020, but the response calls them the “same highest point” without clearly stating this comparison. Some key trends are also omitted or misreported. Manufacturing falls after 1980, retail rises steadily, and healthcare grows strongly, while agriculture declines; these patterns are not all clearly summarised. The agriculture figures are also confused with retail figures in places. A clearer overview followed by accurate comparisons across the four series would make the report more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall shape, moving from an opening statement to details and a final comment, and connectors such as “Meanwhile” and “By contrast” show an attempt to relate information. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the details are not grouped consistently by sector or by time period. In “Similarly, it can be seen that the line is around 5 millions,” the reader cannot tell which sector is being discussed, and the final sentence repeats the agriculture point without developing the overview. The phrase “Let me begin by describing the graph” also uses space without advancing the report. Organise the body into clear comparisons and use explicit sector names when shifting between lines.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “sector,” “plateaued,” “peaked,” and “went down,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which reduces precision. For example, “the same highest point” is an awkward way to describe a tie, and “the line of manufacturing sector” is repeated rather than varied. “Retailing sector” and “health care sector” are understandable, but consistent use of the chart labels—“retail” and “healthcare”—would be clearer. There are also spelling and presentation slips, including lowercase “us” and inconsistent spacing around punctuation. Aim for precise trend verbs and natural collocations rather than repeating “line” and “around.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, but control is uneven and errors occur often enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “the health care sector and retailing sector are the same highest point” lacks a clear grammatical construction, while “the line of retailing sector shows that is around 5 millions” has a missing subject after “that.” There are also problems with articles and number forms in “the line of manufacturing sector” and “15 millions,” as well as tense consistency when describing the graph. Punctuation spacing is inconsistent, and some sentences run together. Build accurate simple sentences first, then add clauses with clear subjects and verbs; check articles, singular/plural forms, and punctuation.

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