Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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, measured in millions, in four sectors of the US economy—manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare—between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing employed the largest number of people at the beginning of the period, but its figure declined after reaching a peak in 1980. By contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased considerably. Agriculture experienced an overall decline and remained the sector with the fewest jobs by 2020.

In 1960, manufacturing accounted for approximately 15 million jobs, considerably more than the other three sectors, which each employed between 2 and 6 million people. Manufacturing then rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980 before falling gradually to around 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Retail, meanwhile, increased steadily from about 6 million jobs in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, before reaching approximately 16 million at the end of the period.

Healthcare also experienced substantial growth throughout the period. Starting at only about 2 million jobs in 1960, its figure climbed to 5 million in 1980 and approximately 11 million in 2000. By 2020, healthcare employment had reached around 16 million, making it one of the largest sectors. In contrast, agriculture declined from roughly 6 million jobs in 1960 to 3 million in 1980. It remained relatively stable at around 3 million in 2000 before falling slightly to approximately 2.5 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected key data points to support your descriptions. The comparison between the sectors is well-integrated, particularly the contrast between the declining manufacturing/agriculture sectors and the growth in retail and healthcare. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical flow of information. To reach a Band 9, you could further refine the 'overview' by highlighting the most striking shift, such as the complete reversal in the relative positions of manufacturing and healthcare by the end of the period.

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 the introduction and overview to detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'meanwhile', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to link ideas and signal shifts in the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. The use of referencing is precise, ensuring the reader can easily track which sector is being discussed throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. Phrases such as 'accounted for', 'reached a peak', 'increased steadily', and 'substantial growth' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate a few more sophisticated, less common lexical items related to trends and data analysis, such as 'surpassed', 'plateaued', or 'marginal fluctuations'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as participial phrases ('Starting at only about 2 million jobs...') and subordinate clauses, with very high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to manage long sentences. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips do not impede communication at all. The control over tense and aspect is consistent and appropriate for describing historical data.

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