Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
The given graph shows the varying trends in the number of jobs (in millions) in four sectors of the economy, namely, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare in the US between 1960 and 2020.
When we look at the number of jobs in the retail and healthcare sectors, we notice that the number of jobs have steadily increased over the last 80 years. However, in the case of the manufacturing and agriculture sectors, the reverse is true, as the number of jobs have declined.
In the retail sector, the number of jobs has steadily climbed from about 6 million in the year 1960 to about 16 million in the year 2020. In the healthcare sector, the number of jobs steadily rose from a low 2 million to a whopping 16 million, being nearly equal to that of the retail sector.
The number of jobs in the manufacturing sector first rose from 15 to 20 million, the highest at the time, but then has dropped all the way to about 12 million. The number of jobs in the agriculture sector has dropped from 6 million to about 2 million, with it now being the sector with the least number of jobs.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
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 selected the key features, such as the growth in retail and healthcare versus the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. The comparisons are relevant and well-supported by the data provided. However, the overview could be slightly more analytical by grouping the sectors more effectively rather than just listing them. Additionally, the statement 'over the last 80 years' is inaccurate as the data spans 60 years (1960-2020). Despite this minor factual error, the response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by body paragraphs that group the sectors by their trends (increasing vs. decreasing). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate these ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'however', 'in the case of', and 'first... but then' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is coherent, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'varying trends', 'steadily climbed', and 'the reverse is true' are used appropriately. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. For instance, 'whopping' is slightly informal for an academic report. Expanding your repertoire to include more precise academic collocations would improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with good control. Most sentences are error-free, and punctuation is generally accurate. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as subject-verb agreement issues: 'the number of jobs have steadily increased' should be 'the number of jobs has steadily increased'. Despite these occasional errors, the grammatical control is strong, and the meaning is never obscured. The range of structures is sufficient for the task requirements.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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