Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-05

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 6.0)

The given graph shows the information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020. I will discuss the main points of the graph in the upcoming paragraphs.

Overall, the main features is that number of jobs in retail and healthcare is increased with the increase of time while, the jobs of manufacturing and agriculture is decreased with the increase of time.

To begin with, In 1960 the number of jobs in manufacturing was 15% and it increased by 5% in 1980 but in 2000 it decreased and reach to 12%. Finally, in 2020 the number of jobs decreased to 13%. The number of jobs in healthcare in 1960 was 2% and it rapidly increased and reached to 15% in 2020.

Furthermore, in 1960 the number of jobs in retail and agriculture was almost same 6%. The number of jobs in 1980 of retail and agriculture was 10% and 3%, respectively. The number of jobs in 2000 of retail was 15% and agriculture was 3%. Overall, in 2020 the number of jobs in retail and agriculture was 15% and 2%, respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the broad contrast between rising employment in retail and healthcare and falling employment in agriculture, and you include several relevant figures. However, the overview is not fully accurate: manufacturing did not decline throughout the period; it rose from 15 million to a peak of 20 million in 1980 before falling. Some details are also misreported: manufacturing was about 17 million in 2000, not 12, and healthcare reached about 16 million in 2020, not 15. The chart measures jobs in millions, not percentages. The response covers the main task, but the overview and some comparisons need more precise development to represent the data reliably.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, with an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs. The sequence from earlier to later years is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “To begin with” and “Furthermore” signal the paragraph structure. However, these transitions are somewhat mechanical, and the grouping of sectors could be clearer: the first detail paragraph combines manufacturing and healthcare, while the second covers retail and agriculture without explaining the basis for these pairings. The overview also repeats the idea of change “with the increase of time.” Use more precise links to show contrasts and turning points, and make each paragraph’s focus explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic vocabulary to describe the graph, including “increased,” “decreased,” “rapidly increased” and “respectively,” so the main trends are usually understandable. However, the range is repetitive, particularly the repeated phrase “the number of jobs,” and some choices are imprecise for this chart. “15%” and “5%” incorrectly present the figures as percentages rather than numbers of jobs in millions. Phrases such as “reach to” and “with the increase of time” are also unnatural collocations. Aim for more precise reporting language, such as “stood at,” “rose to a peak,” and “over the period,” while varying how you refer to employment and the sectors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, and the chronological descriptions are generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, especially with subject–verb agreement and verb forms. For example, “the main features is” should be “the main feature is” or “the main features are,” while “the number of jobs … is increased” should be “increased” or “rose.” In “it decreased and reach to 12,” the verbs do not agree in tense, and “reach to” is not a correct grammatical pattern. Capitalisation after sentence breaks is inconsistent, as in “To begin with, In 1960.” More consistent agreement, tense control and sentence punctuation would make the report smoother.

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.