Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-31

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 chart illustrates the information about the number of jobs in four different departments of the economy in the US over the period from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the number of jobs in the agriculture sector showed a clear downward trend over the period. In addition, the manufacturing field showed a decline despite an initial rise. Furthermore, the retail and healthcare sectors were the highest job providers at the end of the period, while they were the lowest job providers at the beginning.

The manufacturing sector grew steadily from 15 in 1960 to 20 in 1980. However, this upward trend was discontinued, with the figure reaching 13 in 2020. The agriculture sector declined steadily from 6 in 1960 to 2 in 2020.

The retail department experienced overall growth from 6 in 1960 to 16 in 2020. The same trend was shown in the healthcare sector, which rose overall from 2 in 1960 to 16 in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the graph, including the overall trends for each sector. You provided a clear overview and supported your points with data from the chart. However, to reach a higher band, you should ensure that the data points are contextualized more effectively. For example, you mention '15' and '20' without specifying that these represent millions of jobs, which is a crucial detail for clarity. Additionally, while you compared the sectors, adding more comparative language—such as noting that healthcare overtook manufacturing by a specific point in time—would strengthen the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors by their trends. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' to link your ideas effectively. The progression of information is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is slightly smoother, and try to vary your sentence starters even more to avoid a repetitive structure in the body paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'downward trend', 'steady growth', and 'job providers'. The language is generally accurate and appropriate for an academic report. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to data trends, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'surpassed'. Additionally, avoid repeating the word 'sector' or 'department' too frequently by using synonyms or referring to the categories more directly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free. There are no significant grammatical issues that impede communication. To improve, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as using passive voice or relative clauses to describe the data (e.g., 'The manufacturing sector, which experienced a peak in 1980, subsequently declined...'). This would demonstrate greater control over complex grammatical forms.

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