Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-15

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 graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, employment in the Retail and Healthcare sectors increased substantially over the period, while Manufacturing and Agriculture experienced overall declines. Manufacturing had the highest number of jobs initially, whereas Healthcare recorded the most significant growth.

Employment in Manufacturing stood at approximately 15 million in 1960 and then rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980. After that, the figure declined to around 17 million in 2000 and approximately 13 million in 2020. Similarly, the number of agricultural jobs fell from about 6 million in 1960 to 3 million in 1980. It then remained stable until 2000 before declining further to around 2 million in 2020.

In contrast, employment in Retail increased steadily from approximately 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980, before reaching around 15 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020. A similar pattern was observed in Healthcare, where the number of jobs grew from roughly 2 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1980. It then rose sharply to approximately 11 million in 2000 and reached around 16 million in 2020. By the end of the period, Retail and Healthcare had reached approximately the same level.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the graph, including the overall trends and specific data points for each sector. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the contrasting trajectories of the four sectors. You have made relevant comparisons, such as noting that Retail and Healthcare reached similar levels by the end of the period. The information is well-selected and accurately reflects the provided data, fully satisfying the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, the declining sectors, and the growing sectors. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Similarly', 'In contrast', and 'After that', to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next without any confusion or mechanical repetition.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends, such as 'increased substantially', 'experienced overall declines', 'rose to a peak', and 'rose sharply'. The word choice is precise and natural throughout the text. While the vocabulary is accurate and functional, incorporating a few more sophisticated, less common collocations or academic synonyms could elevate the response further to the highest band level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex sentence structures used correctly. You have successfully employed subordinate clauses and comparative structures, such as 'Manufacturing had the highest number of jobs initially, whereas Healthcare recorded the most significant growth.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no errors that impede communication. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the response, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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