Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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 chart illustrates the count of jobs in four economic sectors in the US from 1960 years to 2020.

Overall, the number of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture declined over the period, whilst those in retail and healthcare increased. The count of retail and agriculture related occupations became equal by 2020.

The number of manufacturing jobs was 15 million in 1960 which first rose to 20 million before steadily declining to reach somewhat below 15 million. Jobs related to agriculture started at approximately 5 million in 1960 and plateaued at a little below 5 million during [redacted phone] before further declining in 2020.

Moving further, the number of jobs in retail sector were around 5 million in 1960 and then uniformly increased to 10 million and 15 million in 1980 and 2000 respectively, before reaching a little above 15 million in the final year of the period. Similarly, the number of jobs in healthcare started substantially below 5 million, surged consistently over the period and in the final year, reached a count equivalent to that of retailing jobs in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have successfully highlighted the contrasting movements between the declining sectors (manufacturing and agriculture) and the growing sectors (retail and healthcare). The key features, such as the peak in manufacturing and the steady growth in healthcare, are well-supported by data points. However, the comparison regarding retail and agriculture becoming equal by 2020 is slightly inaccurate based on the visual data, as the lines do not perfectly intersect at that point. Overall, the response covers all requirements of the task well and provides a logical summary of the provided information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'whilst', 'moving further', and 'similarly' are used to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the declining sectors from the growing ones. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. There is a good balance between general trends and specific data points, which contributes to the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'plateaued', 'surged', and 'uniformly increased'. These terms are used accurately and appropriately for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the terminology used for economic sectors is precise and consistent throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the control over grammar is generally strong. There are minor issues, such as '1960 years' (should be '1960') and 'retail sector were' (should be 'the retail sector was'), but these are infrequent and do not hinder understanding. You have used a variety of structures to report the data, including passive constructions and comparative phrases. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the overall grammatical control is sufficient to support clear communication of the data.

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