Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17

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 line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the US economy, namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare, between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs for most of the period, although it declined considerably after 1980. In contrast, retail and healthcare experienced growth, while agriculture remained relatively stable after an initial fall.

In 1960, manufacturing employed about 15 million people, compared with approximately 6 million in both retail and agriculture. Healthcare had the fewest jobs, at around 2 million. By 1980, the number of manufacturing jobs had increased to 20 million, making it the largest sector. Retail also rose to 10 million, while healthcare increased to about 5 million. However, employment in agriculture fell to roughly 3 million.

From 1980 onwards, manufacturing employment decreased steadily, reaching about 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Meanwhile, retail continued to grow, rising from 10 million in 1980 to around 15 million in 2000 and approximately 16 million by 2020. Healthcare showed the most significant growth overall, increasing from 5 million jobs in 1980 to 11 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020.

Agriculture remained at about 3 million jobs between 1980 and 2000 before falling slightly to around 2 million in 2020. By the end of the period, retail and healthcare had the highest employment figures, while agriculture had the lowest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and supported these with accurate data points from the graph. The selection of key features is logical, effectively contrasting the decline in manufacturing with the growth in the service sectors. The comparison between the sectors is well-integrated throughout the report, and the data is used accurately to illustrate the trends. You have successfully identified the most significant changes, such as the shift in the leading sector by the end of the period, which demonstrates a high level of task fulfillment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction and overview to the detailed breakdown of the data. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'By the end of the period' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs, ensuring a smooth flow of information. The paragraphing is skillful, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is unobtrusive, allowing the reader to follow the analysis without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends and data. Phrases such as 'declined considerably', 'remained relatively stable', and 'most significant growth' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and fits the context of an academic report well. While the range is sufficient and flexible, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to reach the highest band. However, the current usage is natural and error-free, effectively conveying the information.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'In 1960, manufacturing employed about 15 million people, compared with approximately 6 million in both retail and agriculture.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report. This reflects a high level of grammatical competence.

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