Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-30

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 7.0)

The graph illustrates the frequency of jobs in US in the four sectors of the economy. These sectors include manufacturing,retail,agriculture and healthcare over the years of [redacted phone].

In 1960, manufacturing sector had the highest number of jobs with around 15 million. It grew steadily for one year and reached its peak in 1980 with 20 million. From there, it had a negative trend and ended with around 13 million jobs in 2020. Healthcare and retail show a steady increase from the year 1960 and in the year 2020, both the sectors have identical number of jobs with approximately 16 million. Healthcare has the highest increase in comparison to the four sectors. It started with only 3 milllion jobs and and rose to 16 million.

Agriculture had 6 million jobs in 1960 and had a steady decrease over the years. It remained constant from 1980 to 2000 but plummeted again to only approximately 2 million in 2020.

Overall, there is a total increase in the economy of US from the years 1960 to 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the graph, including the peak of the manufacturing sector and the growth trends in healthcare and retail. You also made relevant comparisons, such as noting that healthcare and retail reached identical figures in 2020. However, the overview is slightly weak; while you mention a total increase in the economy, it would be more effective to highlight the significant shift in the US economy from manufacturing-based to service-based sectors. Additionally, ensure all data points are accurate; for instance, the manufacturing peak occurred around 1980, but your description of the trend between 1960 and 1980 could be more precise regarding the specific fluctuations shown in the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the different sectors, and a concluding overview. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In 1960', 'From there', and 'Overall', which help the reader follow the progression of information. However, the transition between the description of the sectors and the final overview is a bit abrupt. To improve, try to use more varied linking phrases to connect your comparisons between sectors more fluidly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, which aids readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'steady increase', 'negative trend', and 'plummeted'. These terms are appropriate for describing trends in a graph. There are a few minor issues, such as 'frequency of jobs' (which should be 'number of jobs') and 'identical number of jobs' (which is fine, but could be more concise). You avoid repetition for the most part, but expanding your range of reporting verbs and adverbs would help elevate your score. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly without any significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'in US' (should be 'in the US') and 'and and' (a repeated word). Additionally, 'manufacturing sector had' should be 'the manufacturing sector had'. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring consistent use of articles and proofreading for minor typing errors. Your control of tense is generally good, as you correctly use the past tense to describe historical data.

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