Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-28

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 the US economy from 1960 to 2020, in four sectors ( manufacturing, retails, agriculture, and healthcare).

Overall, the number of job was highest in manufacturing and lowest in healthcare in 1960. While in retails and agriculture was same in the number in 1960. In 2020, the job opportunities were increased in retail and healthcare.

In manufacturing, the number of jobs increased in 20 years ([redacted phone]) and continously decreased upto 2020. In retail, the number of jobs increased from 1960 to 2020. In healthcare sector, the number of jobs increassed slowly in first 20 years and sharply increased in next 40 years. Agriculture sector was popular in 1960 however, decreased sharply in next 20 years and still decreased untill 2020.

In 1960 job of manufacturing was most popular as compare to other three sectors. In 2020, retail and healthcare sector jobs became trending in economy of the US.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main sectors and describe several important trends: manufacturing peaks in 1980 before declining, retail rises throughout, healthcare grows especially strongly after 1980, and agriculture falls. These are relevant and broadly match the graph. However, the overview is not fully clear: saying manufacturing was highest and healthcare lowest in 1960 is accurate, but the statement that retail and agriculture were “same” would be clearer as both having about 6 million jobs. The final comparison also calls retail and healthcare “trending” without explaining that they are joint leaders at roughly 16 million in 2020. Develop the overview around these key comparisons and include selected figures to support the trends more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to descriptions of the sectors, and the information is generally presented in a sensible order. Paragraphing helps distinguish the overview from the details. However, progression is weakened by repetition: manufacturing’s initial dominance is mentioned again in the final paragraph, while the final comparison adds little new information. Some linking is also awkward or incomplete, as in “While in retails and agriculture was same,” which makes the relationship between ideas difficult to follow. Grouping the sectors by contrasting trends, and using clearer links such as “By contrast” or “Meanwhile,” would make the comparisons more cohesive and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “increased,” “decreased,” “sharply,” and “sector,” so the main trends are usually understandable. There is some attempt to vary descriptions of change, particularly when contrasting a slow rise in healthcare with a sharper later increase. However, several choices are inaccurate or informal for a graph report: “retails” should be “retail,” “popular” and “trending” do not describe job numbers precisely, and “job opportunities” shifts the meaning from the number of jobs. Spelling errors such as “continously,” “increassed,” and “untill” also reduce control. Choose precise terms such as “employment,” “rose,” “declined,” and “reached,” and check spelling and sector names.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple statements and more complex forms, including a contrast beginning with “While” and a time clause describing healthcare’s changes. The overall meaning can generally be followed, but some sentence structures and agreement patterns are inaccurate. For example, “the number of job was highest” needs plural “jobs” and agreement with “number,” while “While in retails and agriculture was same” is an incomplete clause. “In manufacturing, the number of jobs increased in 20 years” is also an awkward construction for describing a period. Practise complete comparative sentences, accurate subject–verb agreement, and consistent past-tense reporting. These corrections would make your range of sentence forms clearer and more controlled.

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.