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

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have provided a clear overview of the trends and successfully selected the main features of the data. You correctly identified the growth in healthcare and retail and the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. The comparison between sectors is well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide more precise data points. For example, when mentioning the manufacturing sector, you state it rose to 20 million, but the graph shows it peaking closer to 25 million. Accuracy in data reporting is essential for a high score in Task 1. Overall, you have covered all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs focusing on the growth and decline sectors respectively. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'In the retail sector', 'When it comes to', and 'Between 1960 and 1980' effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different trends. The flow is natural, and the relationship between the different sectors is clearly established throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly. Phrases like 'increased substantially', 'declined steadily', and 'year on year' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is precise enough to communicate the trends effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'while the number of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture decreased significantly'. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your sentences. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report. This indicates a solid command of grammatical structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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