Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09

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 line graph given below illustrates the numbers of jobs, in millions, in four sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing had the biggest numbers of jobs for most of the period, although it declined after reaching a peak in 1980. In contrast, employment in retail and healthcare rose considerably, while agriculture experienced a gradual decline.

In 1960, manufacturing provided around 15 million jobs, compared with approximately 6 million in retail and agriculture and only 2 million in healthcare. Manufacturing employment then rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980, before falling to about 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020.

Retail employment increased steadily from 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980, reaching around 15 million in 2000 and16 million in 2020. Healthcare jobs rose, from 2 million to 15 million over the period. By contrast, agriculture fell from 6 million to only 2 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all requirements of the task. You have identified the main trends for all four sectors and provided a clear overview of the period. The data is accurately selected and compared, such as noting the peak of manufacturing in 1980 and the contrasting trajectories of healthcare and agriculture. The information is well-supported by the figures provided in the graph. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly highlight the most significant 'cross-over' points or the most dramatic shifts, such as the point where healthcare employment surpassed agriculture, to further enhance the analytical quality of the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By contrast', and 'before falling to' to link information successfully. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general trends from the specific data points. The flow is natural, and the relationship between the different sectors is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'declined', 'rose considerably', 'gradual decline', and 'steady increase'. The terminology is accurate and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'jobs' and 'employment' to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates good control over a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There is a minor formatting error in the final paragraph ('2000 and16'), which is a slip rather than a systemic issue. You have successfully used complex structures, such as 'although it declined after reaching a peak' and 'compared with approximately 6 million', which shows a good command of grammar. The writing is clear and easy to read throughout.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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