Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-31

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 graph illustrates the jobs in four different sectors in the US from 1960 to 2020.

From the graph, the Agriculture sector was slightly above 5 million, and the lowest was the healthcare sector. However, the healthcare sector has risen drastically. Agriculture fell dramatically, and it was the same as the healthcare sector back then in 1960.

On the other hand, the retail sector was above 5 million, and it jumped to 10 million in 1980. In 2020, it had a higher level, accompanied by healthcare. For manufacturing, it was at 15 million back then, and in 1980 it had increased to 20 million. This was the highest point. Unfortunately, the job sector fell to under 15 million in 2020.

in contrast, healthcare and retail have the best growth among the years. Both have obtained the same position in 2020. But, manufacturing and agriculture had the biggest decline in 2020. Among them, agriculture was the worst-case scenario.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify several important patterns: manufacturing peaks at 20 million in 1980 before declining, agriculture falls, and both retail and healthcare rise to about 16 million by 2020. However, the overview is not consistently accurate or sufficiently clear. In particular, agriculture and healthcare were not equal in 1960: agriculture was about 6 million, compared with healthcare at 2 million. The statement that agriculture was “slightly above 5 million” also describes only its starting point, not its overall trend. Some comparisons, such as “the biggest decline,” are vague and do not distinguish agriculture’s sustained fall from manufacturing’s later decrease. Give a concise overview of the main contrasts, then support it with accurate figures at key dates.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure and uses signposts such as “On the other hand” and “In contrast” to group information. The reader can generally follow the discussion of the four sectors. However, progression is uneven: the second paragraph moves between agriculture and healthcare, while the final paragraph repeats the growth and decline comparisons already made. Some links do not express a clear relationship; for example, “In 2020, it had a higher level, accompanied by healthcare” leaves the comparison unclear. Organise the report into a clear overview followed by paragraphs comparing the rising sectors and the declining or fluctuating sectors. Use references such as “both sectors” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to describe trends, including “risen drastically,” “increased,” “fell,” and “decline.” These choices make the broad movements understandable, and “highest point” is relevant to manufacturing’s peak. Some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for a data report, however. “The best growth” and “obtained the same position” are less suitable than “the strongest increases” and “reached the same level.” “Worst-case scenario” is also evaluative and informal, while “the steepest decline” would describe the data more objectively. Aim for precise trend language and avoid dramatic wording unless the figures clearly justify it; this will make comparisons more accurate and appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple sentences and some longer structures, and most of the main trends remain understandable. There are, however, some errors in sentence construction, tense consistency, and punctuation. The opening “From the graph, the Agriculture sector was slightly above 5 million, and the lowest was the healthcare sector” joins ideas awkwardly and leaves “the lowest” without a clear noun. The shift from past reporting to “the healthcare sector has risen” is inconsistent with the historical period; use past forms throughout. The final paragraph begins with lowercase “in contrast,” and “Both have obtained the same position” uses an unsuitable tense construction. Practise forming clear comparisons with complete clauses and maintain consistent past-tense reporting.

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