Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-08

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 illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of US economy manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing jobs increased initially before declining considerably, while employment in healthcare and retails generally rose. In contract, the number of agriculture jobs decreased throughout the period.

In 1960 , manufacturing was the largest employment sector, with approximately 15 million jobs. This figure rose to a [eak of 20 million in 1980, before falling to around 17 million in 2000 and approximately 13 million in 2020. Retail employment, meanwhile, increased steadily from about 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980, and then reached roughly 15 million in 2000. By 2020, it had risen slightly further to around 16 million.

Healthcare experienced the most significant growth. Starting at only about 2 million jobs in 1960, employment in this sector climbed to approximately 5 million in 1980, 11 million in 2000, and 16 million in 2020. By the end of the period, healthcare had therefore become one of the largest employment sectors.

Agriculture followed the opposite trend. Employment fell from around 6 million jobs in 1960 to approximately 3 million in 1980, remained relatively stable in 2000, and declined further to about 2 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have identified the main trends for all four sectors and provided relevant data points to support your descriptions. The overview is clear and highlights the key differences between the sectors, such as the growth in healthcare versus the decline in agriculture. The information is well-selected, and the comparisons are accurate. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently proofread for minor typographical errors, such as the '[eak' instead of 'peak', which can slightly detract from the professional presentation of the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, an overview, and distinct body paragraphs for each sector or group of sectors. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'meanwhile', 'in contrast', and 'by the end of the period'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different trends. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the different sectors is clearly articulated throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have demonstrated a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends, such as 'increased steadily', 'declining considerably', and 'significant growth'. The use of sector-specific terminology is accurate. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items could elevate the response further. There is one minor spelling error ('[eak'), but this does not impede communication or affect the overall clarity of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while employment in healthcare... rose') and participial phrases. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over tense usage (past simple for historical data) is consistent and accurate. Punctuation is generally well-managed, although there is a minor spacing issue before the comma in '1960 ,'. These are rare, non-systematic slips that do not interfere with the reader's understanding of the data.

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