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 shows the trends of number of jobs in four industries(manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare) between [redacted phone]. Units are measured in jobs in millions.

Manufacturing was the industry with the most jobs at the start of the period while healthcare had the least. At the end of the period, retail and healthcare had tied at the top to surpass manufacturing. Overall, healthcare was the most improved while manufacturing was the least improved.

Manufacturing started the period at 15 million jobs and registered a 5 million increase to 20 million which was its peak in 1980. This industry then experienced a decline in the remaining years, falling by approximately 3 million in 2000 and another 4 million to reach its lowest point at around 13 million jobs in 2020. Agriculture was at approximately 6 million jobs in 1960 and registered a decrease to about 3 million jobs in 1980. This number remained steady in 2000 then fell slightly to about 2 million jobs at the end of the period which was its minimum.

Retail had tied with agriculture at the beginning of the period at 6 million jobs then registered around 4% increase in 1980 and another 5% increase in 2000 landing at 15 million jobs. This number increased slightly to reach its peak at about 16 million jobs in 2020. Healthcare was at the bottom at about 2 million jobs in 1960. This number climbed by about 3% to reach 5% in 1980 then increased significantly by about 6% to approximately 11 million jobs in 2000. This number continued to climb, surpassing manufacturing to reach its maximum which was around 16 million jobs in 2020, tying with retail.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your descriptions. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the key changes in the sectors. However, there is a minor inaccuracy in the data interpretation: you mention percentages (e.g., '4% increase') when the graph displays absolute numbers in millions. This misinterpretation of the data units slightly affects the accuracy of the report. To reach a higher band, ensure that the data reported matches the units provided on the axes precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific sectors. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall' and 'at the beginning of the period', to link your points. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes a bit mechanical, and the transition between sentences could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sectors, which helps the reader navigate the information effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'registered', 'experienced a decline', and 'surpassing'. However, there are some issues with word choice and precision, particularly when discussing the data. For instance, using '4% increase' instead of referring to the numerical change in millions is a lexical error related to data interpretation. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main features of the graph, more precise and varied terminology would enhance the quality of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the response. Most sentences are clear and easy to understand, and your grammar is generally accurate. There are a few minor errors, such as 'trends of number of jobs' (should be 'trends in the number of jobs') and 'retail and healthcare had tied' (should be 'retail and healthcare tied'). These errors do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures to demonstrate greater control.

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