Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-02
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 provided line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare, of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, it is evident that the number of jobs in the retail and agricultural sectors increased significantly over the 60-year period, while employment in the manufacturing and healthcare sectors declined considerably. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector had the highest number of jobs throughout the period.
In 1960, the number of jobs in the manufacturing sector stood at 15 million before increasing slightly to 20 million in 1980. It then declined steadily to reach its lowest point of 13 million by 2020. Additionally, the retail sector accounted for 5 million jobs in 1960, followed by a modest increase to 10 million in 1980. The figure then continued to rise, peaking at around 15 million in 2020.
Regarding the other two sectors, the number of jobs in the agricultural sector started at 2 million in 1960. It then increased gradually to 10 million in 2000 before continuing to rise to 15 million by 2020. Conversely, the healthcare sector started at the highest level, with 5 million jobs in 1960. However, this figure declined to 4 million in 1980 and then fell further to reach a low of 3 million by the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response provides a clear overview of the main trends and selects relevant data points to support the description. However, there is a significant factual inaccuracy in the summary: the text states that manufacturing and healthcare declined, whereas the graph shows manufacturing and healthcare trends differently (healthcare actually shows a decline, but manufacturing fluctuates). More importantly, the data reporting contains errors; for example, the text claims the manufacturing sector had the highest number of jobs throughout the period, which contradicts the visual data where other sectors surpass it. While the main features are identified, the accuracy of the data interpretation is compromised, which prevents a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Additionally', and 'Conversely' are used appropriately to link ideas and contrast trends. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different sectors, and the progression of information is easy to follow. The response flows well, and the relationship between the ideas is clear throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'declined considerably', 'modest increase', and 'peaking'. The range is sufficient to convey the information clearly. However, there is a lack of more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. The word choice is accurate, and there are no spelling errors, but the range remains somewhat standard and predictable for this type of task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'It then declined steadily to reach its lowest point of 13 million by 2020.' Punctuation is used correctly, and the sentence structures are generally error-free. While the range of complex structures is not particularly wide, the accuracy is high, and the writing is clear and professional. The occasional minor error does not impede communication.
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