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 information about jobs in the US in four sectors of economy manufacturing,retail,agriculture, or healthcare between [redacted phone].

Overall, manufacturing sector giving the higest number oof jobs in the economy in 1998, number of jobs reached 20 million figuers. on the other hand, agricuture sector produce the lowest jobs and the figures decline all over the year.

IN 1960, manufacturing have 15 million jobs figures reached at peak 20 million in 1980. then saw the decline 2000 and 2020 figures below the 15 million. retail sector from 1960 growth steadily 7 million than figures rose up to 10 million after 2000 or 2020 figures reaches at 15 or 16 million respectively.

1n 1960, in US agriculture sector have 6 million then facing decline all over year.on the contrary healthcare department have 0,5 but after the slight rise figures reaches 5 million in 1980, after that 2000 and 2020 figures surged up approximately 11 million and 16 million respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the four sectors and describe several key movements, including manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980, agriculture declining, and healthcare rising to about 16 million by 2020. However, the overview contains a significant date error: manufacturing peaks in 1980, not 1998. Some figures and comparisons are also imprecise: retail starts at 6 million, not 7, and reaches 15 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020. The claim that manufacturing is the highest in 1998 is unsupported by the chart. To make the summary more complete and reliable, give a clear overview of the contrasting trends and the final comparison: retail and healthcare both end at about 16 million, while agriculture is lowest.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs covering the sectors. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within sentences is sometimes difficult to follow, particularly in the retail description: “from 1960 growth steadily 7 million than figures rose up to 10 million after 2000 or 2020…” The sequence of years and values is unclear. Linking phrases such as “on the other hand” and “on the contrary” are used, but the relationships they signal are not always precise, and punctuation often runs ideas together. Grouping the rising sectors together and the declining sectors together, then using clear time markers, would make comparisons easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart vocabulary, including “decline,” “peak,” “steadily,” and “surged,” and the reader can generally identify the sectors and trends you mean. However, the range is limited and some word combinations are unnatural or inaccurate, such as “manufacturing sector giving the highest number,” “agriculture sector produce the lowest jobs,” and “figures reached at peak.” Spelling errors—including “higest,” “figuers,” and “agricuture”—also make the writing less clear and polished. Choose precise terms for employment data, such as “number of jobs,” “employment,” and “stood at,” and check spelling carefully. Avoid repeating “figures” when a more direct construction would be clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with time clauses, but control is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in phrases such as “manufacturing have 15 million,” “agriculture sector have 6 million,” and “figures reaches.” Articles and sentence construction are also problematic: “in four sectors of economy” needs a clearer article structure, while “then saw the decline 2000 and 2020 figures below…” joins ideas without a complete, well-formed sentence. Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, including “IN 1960” and missing spaces after full stops. Practise writing one complete sentence for each trend, using consistent past-tense verbs and clear clauses; this will make the information easier to understand.

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