Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)
The line graph tracks the number of jobs generated in four sectors of the US economy from 1960 to 2020.
The Retail and healthcare sector had the highest seats by the year 2000 despite starting lower in 1960. Although manufacturing generated the highest employment initially, but the number of jobs saw an overall decrease in this sector.
Out of all 4 sectors, manufacturing jobs available were the biggest in number at 15 million in 1960. The number of manufacturing job vacancies peaked in 1990 reaching 20 million, before gradually decreasing to only 12.5 million in 2020. This was followed by retail and agricultural jobs, both starting at 6 million in 1960. However, retail job positions saw a steady rise reaching 15 million in 2000. Between 2000 and 2020, number of jobs in this sector plateuaed at 15 million.
Despite both sectors having an equal number of job opportunities initially, employment in agriculture sector saw a decline compared to retail which experienced a steady increase. The number of jobs created in agriculture fell to 7 million in 1990, and kept decreasing but at a relatively slower rate reaching only 2 million in 2020. The healthcare sector had the lowest number of jobs in 1960 but had the highest number of jobs along with the retail sector by the end of the period. Healthcare jobs steadily increased throughout the 60 years; by the year 2020 this sector had generated 15 million jobs.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You highlighted the key shifts, such as the decline in manufacturing and the growth in healthcare and retail. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned manufacturing peaked at 20 million in 1990, but the graph shows it peaking closer to 25 million. Additionally, while you made comparisons, ensure they are consistently accurate throughout the report. Overall, you have covered the requirements well by selecting the most significant features of the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and separate paragraphs for different sectors. You use cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'However', and 'Despite' to link ideas effectively. The progression of information is generally smooth, moving from an overview to specific sector details. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is more varied, as some structures feel slightly repetitive. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure allows the reader to follow the trends in the US economy without difficulty.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, using terms like 'generated', 'steadily increased', 'plateaued', and 'decline'. This allows for clear communication of the data. There are a few minor errors, such as 'seats' instead of 'jobs' or 'positions', and a spelling error ('plateuaed'). To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repeating the same phrasing. Your vocabulary is adequate for the task and conveys the intended meaning effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Although manufacturing generated the highest employment initially, but the number of jobs saw an overall decrease'. Note that 'Although' and 'but' should not be used in the same clause. There are occasional grammatical slips, such as missing articles ('in agriculture sector') and minor punctuation issues. However, these errors do not impede communication. To improve, focus on refining complex sentence structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement remains consistent throughout the text.
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