Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-30

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 of US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing sector had the highest number of employees but it fell after a certain time period. The number of jobs in retail and healthcare sectors increased steadily over the period. In contrast, the figure in agriculture sector decreased slightly but remained almost stable after 1980.

In 1960, manufacturing sector had 15 million employees. The figure increased drammatically and reached the peak of 20 million at the end of 1980. After that particular year, the figure fell significantly. In 2020, the manufacturing sector had 13 million jobs. On the other hand, the number of jobs in retail sector increased steadily from 6 million to 15 million in fourty years. In 2005, it over take the manufacturing sector and reached 16 million in 2020.

The number of job is agriculture sector was 6 million in 1960. It decreased slightly to 4 million in 1980. After that year it remained unchanged for 20 years. In contrst

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main direction of change in all four sectors and include several relevant figures, such as manufacturing rising from 15 million to 20 million before falling to 13 million, and retail reaching 16 million. However, the overview is not fully accurate: manufacturing was not the highest throughout, since retail and healthcare both reached about 16 million by 2020. The claim that retail overtook manufacturing in 2005 is unsupported by the chart, which gives data only for 2000 and 2020. Agriculture is also reported as falling to 4 million in 1980, rather than about 3 million, and the response ends before describing healthcare’s trend. A more complete overview and accurate comparisons would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to details about manufacturing, retail and agriculture. Paragraphing helps separate the overview from the figures, and phrases such as “Overall” and “On the other hand” signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is weakened because healthcare is not developed, and the final paragraph stops abruptly at “In contrst,” leaving the report incomplete. Some linking is also mechanical or imprecise: “After that particular year” and “After that year” repeat the same pattern, while “In 2005” introduces a point not shown in the graph. Organise the body by comparing related trends and ensure each paragraph reaches a clear conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of task-related vocabulary, including “increased steadily,” “reached the peak,” “fell significantly” and “remained almost stable.” These expressions help communicate the broad trends, and the meaning is generally clear. Some choices are inaccurate or awkward, however: “employees” is less precise than “jobs” or “employment,” and “over take” should be expressed as “overtook.” There are also spelling errors in “drammatically,” “fourty” and “contrst,” which reduce control of written vocabulary. “The number of job” is another word-form error. Aim for precise chart language and proofread spelling and word forms; for example, use “declined” or “fell” consistently for downward trends.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and some more developed structures, including “Overall, manufacturing sector had the highest number of employees but it fell after a certain time period.” Most sentences communicate their intended meaning, but errors in articles, agreement and sentence construction remain. For example, write “the manufacturing sector” and “the number of jobs in the agriculture sector”; “The number of job is agriculture sector” has faulty structure and agreement. The final fragment, “In contrst,” also leaves a sentence unfinished. There is some control of past-tense reporting, but check consistency and form, as in “it over take” rather than “it overtook.” More accurate sentence patterns and complete sentences would improve clarity.

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