Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11

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 chart illustrates the fluctuations in four employment sectors in the US from the year 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is evident that healthcare and retail showed substantial growth over the period, while agriculture and manufacturing both experienced a massive decline.

To begin with, in the year 1960, healthcare commenced with the lowest employment rate. However, it experienced exponential growth over the period of 6 decades, overtaking agriculture by 1980 and surging past both manufacturing and retail by the year 2020 to reach its peak to approximately 16 million. Retail followed similar upward trajectory, climbing steadily from 6 million positions in 1960 to equaling healthcare at 16 million in the year 2020.

In contrast, the remaining two sectors witnessed overall contraction in their workforces. Manufacturing initially held the highest positions, rising from 15 million jobs in 1960 to reaching its peak of 20 million positions in the year 1980, however it subsequently entered a steady decline, dropping to 13 million by 2020. Moreover, agriculture started from lowest point with 6 million workforce, ultimately bottoming to less than 1 million jobs by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively identifies and reports the main features of the graph. You have successfully highlighted the key trends, such as the growth in healthcare and retail and the decline in agriculture and manufacturing. The comparisons between sectors are clear and relevant, such as noting that healthcare overtook agriculture by 1980. The overview is concise and accurately captures the overall trends. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the data is used appropriately to support the descriptions provided. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with maximum precision, as there were minor inaccuracies in the interpretation of the starting figures for agriculture.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an overview to detailed descriptions of the growing and declining sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'To begin with', and 'however' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly throughout the text. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the data trends without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'exponential growth', 'upward trajectory', and 'contraction'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are some minor issues with collocation, such as 'held the highest positions' (should be 'highest number of jobs') and 'bottoming to' (should be 'bottoming out at'). However, these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is varied enough to convey the information clearly and effectively throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There are a few minor slips, such as 'started from lowest point' (missing an article 'the') and 'reach its peak to approximately' (preposition error). Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the grammatical control is strong, and the meaning is always clear. The punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and list information, contributing to the overall readability of the report.

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