Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-22

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 line graph illustrates changes in the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020, measured in millions.

Overall, retail and healthcare showed an upward trend, with both reaching the highest figure by the end of the period. In contrast, agriculture experienced a marked decline, while manufacturing fluctuated considerably.

At the beginning of the period, manufacturing stood at approximately 15 million jobs before rising to about 20 million in 1980. It then declined steadily, ultimately reaching around 12 million by 2020. Similarly, retail followed a broadly upward trajectory, increasing from roughly 6 million to 16 million jobs, despite some fluctuations during the period.

Meanwhile, agriculture underwent a pronounced decline, falling from approximately 5 million jobs in 1960 to almost zero in 2020. By comparison, healthcare rose consistently aound 2 million to 15 million jobs, becoming the largest employment sector by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively identifies the main features of the graph, including the upward trends in retail and healthcare, the decline in agriculture, and the fluctuations in manufacturing. You have successfully selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the starting and ending figures for each sector. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the overall trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully developed; for instance, you could explicitly contrast the growth rates of retail and healthcare more deeply to highlight the 'main features' more comprehensively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the information effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', 'Meanwhile', and 'By comparison' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is logical. The response demonstrates a good command of organizational structure, making the information easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'upward trajectory', 'marked decline', and 'fluctuated considerably'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There is a minor typographical error ('aound' instead of 'around'), but this does not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to demonstrate a wider range of lexical flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is generally strong. You successfully use complex structures, such as 'despite some fluctuations during the period' and 'before rising to about 20 million in 1980'. The few errors present are minor and do not affect the clarity of the information. The grammatical control is consistent throughout the piece.

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

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