Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The line graph illustrates the information about the proportion of jobs in quatra sectors in US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the highest number in 2020 were Retail and Healthcare which were almost same. However, the lowest proportion was Agriculture.

In the period 1960 to 1980, manufacturing jobs was increased. After that, the proportion was dropped rapidly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies a relevant overall feature: by 2020, retail and healthcare were at roughly the same highest level, while agriculture was lowest. It also notes the rise and subsequent fall in manufacturing, which matches the graph. However, the report is very incomplete: it gives no figures and omits the major growth in retail and healthcare, as well as the decline in agriculture. The description of manufacturing is also vague and does not report its peak around 1980 or its later levels. The required minimum length is not met, leaving too little information to summarise the main features and make meaningful comparisons. Include an overview and several accurate comparisons supported by approximate figures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic, understandable order: it introduces the graph, gives an overall observation, and then begins describing manufacturing over time. The use of “Overall” and “After that” helps signal the relationship between ideas. However, the report ends before it develops a complete progression through the four sectors, and the short final paragraph does not connect manufacturing’s trend to the other series. The overview also repeats the idea of the highest and lowest categories without leading into supporting details. Organise the response into a brief introduction, a clear overview, and detail paragraphs that group related trends, using time references to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate a few basic features, including “highest,” “lowest,” “increased,” and “dropped.” However, the range is narrow and some choices are inaccurate or awkward for describing this graph. “Proportion” is not appropriate because the chart reports numbers of jobs, not shares, and “quatra” is a spelling error that makes the introduction less clear. “Information about” is also a general phrase where a more precise description of the data would help. Build a small range of accurate trend language, such as “the number of jobs,” “rose,” “declined,” and “remained stable,” and use it to distinguish the different sector patterns.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response uses simple sentence forms and communicates its main points, but grammatical control is inconsistent. In “the highest number in 2020 were Retail and Healthcare,” the subject and verb do not agree; “the highest numbers … were” or “the highest figures … were” would be more accurate. “Manufacturing jobs was increased” has an incorrect passive construction; use “the number of manufacturing jobs increased.” The phrase “the proportion was dropped” also uses an unnecessary passive form. There is little variety beyond short statements, so the report does not demonstrate a wider range of structures. Practise accurate past-tense descriptions and comparisons, then combine related information in controlled complex sentences.

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.