Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-21
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 chart displays data related to the number of jobs in four categories of the economy in America from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, the number of jobs in healthcare and retail increased substantially during the given period, with the two sectors ranking highest in the ending year, while the number of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture decreased significantly.
In the retail sector, the number of jobs rose consistently from just over 5 million in 1960 to around 15 million in 2020. When it comes to healthcare, the trend was similar to that in retail. In the starting year, it was the lowest compared to other categories, at around 3 million in 1960, and ended at the same figure as retail, which was the highest in 2020.
Between 1960 and 1980, the number of jobs in manufacturing went up significantly from 15 million to 20 million, and then continuously dropped to around 13 million in 2020. The number of jobs in the agriculture sector was approximately 6 million at the starting point and declined steadily year on year, ending at around 2 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively covers all parts of the task. You have identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data, highlighting the contrasting movements between the sectors. The selection of data is appropriate, and you have made relevant comparisons, such as noting that healthcare and retail ended at the same figure. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are precise; for instance, stating that healthcare started at 'around 3 million' is acceptable, but ensure your comparisons are consistently supported by the figures provided in the prompt to avoid any ambiguity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, moving from an overview to specific sector details. Cohesive devices such as 'In the retail sector', 'When it comes to', and 'Between 1960 and 1980' are used effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly. To improve further, you could incorporate a wider variety of cohesive links to connect sentences more fluidly, rather than relying on standard transition phrases at the start of each paragraph.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'increased substantially', 'declined steadily', and 'at the starting point' are accurate and appropriate for a report of this nature. The vocabulary is precise enough to describe the trends without repetition. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'upward trajectory', 'plummeted', or 'surpassed', to demonstrate a more flexible and precise control of language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, and there are frequent error-free sentences throughout the text. Punctuation is used correctly, and the sentence construction is clear. While there are no major errors that impede communication, the range of complex structures could be expanded. For instance, you could use more varied subordinate clauses or passive constructions to describe the data, which would demonstrate a higher level of grammatical flexibility.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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