Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-02

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

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 5.0)

This is line chart type of graph that given information of job avalable in economy of US acoss four main sectors manufacturing,retail,agricultur and healthcare.Data illustrateration from 1960 to 2020. Data given in millions.

Overall, when started manufacturing sector had large number of job compair to another sectors, but not remain stable throughout.It is slightly downward at end.Retai and healthcare grew up soomthly and achiv high level.Agricultur sectors was perform lower throughout the period.

In detail, in 1960 manufacturing sector was on top and acive highest point in 1980, after started

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the chart’s subject, time span and unit, and your overview correctly notes that manufacturing began as the largest sector, while agriculture remained comparatively low. However, the response addresses the task only partially: the detailed account stops mid-sentence at “after started,” so it does not report the later manufacturing trend or give figures for the other sectors. The overview’s claim that retail and healthcare “grew up” is too general to show their different starting points and eventual levels. The response is also 60 words below the required minimum, leaving too little information to summarise the main features. To improve, complete the comparison across all four sectors and include selected figures at key years.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response into an introduction, an overview and a detail paragraph, which gives the reader some sense of the intended structure. The overview also groups the rising sectors together and contrasts them with agriculture. However, there is no clear progression into a complete account: the final paragraph ends abruptly after “after started,” and the reader is left without the promised details. Connections between ideas are limited, and the overview’s comparisons are not developed in a sequence across the years. Use complete paragraphs and link each sector’s starting point, changes and final position with clear time markers such as “by 1980” and “from 2000 onwards.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant chart vocabulary, including “sector,” “millions,” “highest point” and “throughout the period,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand, such as “job avalable,” “Data illustrateration,” “compair” and “achiv.” Some phrases are also unnatural for describing trends: “grew up soomthly” and “was perform lower” do not express the intended changes clearly. Aim for accurate, conventional language for graphs, including “number of jobs,” “rose steadily,” “declined” and “remained the smallest sector.” Proofreading spelling and choosing precise trend verbs would make your comparisons clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a few different sentence forms, including an overview with a contrast (“but not remain stable throughout”) and a sentence describing several sectors. However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make the relationships between ideas unclear. For example, “This is line chart type of graph that given information” lacks necessary articles and a correctly formed clause; “when started manufacturing sector had” has an incomplete opening structure; and “Agricultur sectors was perform lower” has problems with agreement and verb form. The final sentence is unfinished, so it cannot communicate the intended trend. Practise complete subject–verb sentences and past-tense reporting, for example: “Manufacturing employment peaked in 1980, then declined.”

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