Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-14

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 given line graph depicts information regarding the amount of jobs in four different economic sectors in the USA in the period of 60 years.

To begin with, it can be seen that the field of manufacturing had the highest number of jobs starting at 15 million in 1960 in the USA. After this, the number skyrocketed to 20 million till 1980. However, after 1980 there was a steep fall in the number of manufacturing jobs for a long time and then they reached at around 13 million jobs in 2020. Furthermore, both retail and agricultural fields had an equal of 6 million jobs each in the year of 1960. However, while retail jobs showed a steady rise and reached at 15 million jobs till 2000, the agriculture related jobs showed a fall and reached at 3 million jobs, after which this number remained constant till 2020. Lastly, the healthcare field is where there has been seen the most steady increase in the number of jobs, starting from just around 2 million jobs in 1960 and reaching almost 16 million jobs till 2020.

Overall, it can be said that, manufacturing jobs were in high demand in the 1960s but decreased till 2020. Meanwhile, the fields related to retail and healthcare have showed a sharp rise over the years and were in the most demand in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as noting the equal starting point for retail and agriculture in 1960. To reach a higher band, ensure your data points are precise; for example, stating the manufacturing peak was '20 million' is good, but ensure all figures are clearly linked to the timeline. The overview in the final paragraph is effective as it synthesizes the main trends rather than just repeating data. Your response is well-structured and addresses all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the sectors, and a concluding overview. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different ideas. The progression of information is smooth, and the referencing is generally clear. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a mechanical feel, but overall, the flow of information is logical and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly. Phrases like 'skyrocketed', 'steep fall', and 'steady rise' are well-chosen and appropriate for describing trends in a graph. There are some minor issues with collocation, such as 'reached at', which should simply be 'reached'. Additionally, 'amount of jobs' is less precise than 'number of jobs' when referring to countable nouns. While you use some good descriptive language, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or precise academic collocations would help elevate your score to the next level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, though there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'reached at' (should be 'reached') and 'had an equal of 6 million' (should be 'had an equal number of 6 million'). Punctuation is generally accurate, and your control of tense is consistent with the requirements of describing past and ongoing trends. To improve, focus on eliminating these small prepositional errors and aim for more varied complex sentence structures.

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