Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23

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 the number of jobs in the manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare sectors of the economy in the United States from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the number of jobs in healthcare rose steadily throughout the period, while employment in manufacturing experienced an overall decline from 1960 to 2020. However, the highest number of jobs in 1960 was in manufacturing, whereas the lowest number was in healthcare.

In 1960, the maximum number of jobs was in manufacturing, which stood at 15 million. It then peaked at about 20 million before declining steadily over the period, reaching just below 15 million in 2020. However, healthcare had the lowest number of jobs, at around 2.5 million in 1960, and saw a significant increase to about 16 million by 2020.

In 1960, the number of agricultural jobs was around 6 million and declined over the period to under 5 million in 2020. Meanwhile, employment in retail experienced a significant increase over the period, reaching 16 million in 2020, which was the same as healthcare.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have identified the main trends, such as the steady rise in healthcare and the decline in manufacturing, and provided relevant data points to support these observations. The overview is clear and highlights the key features of the graph. You have successfully made comparisons, such as noting that retail and healthcare reached the same level by 2020. The information is accurate and well-selected, providing a comprehensive summary of the provided data without unnecessary detail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the specific sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Meanwhile', and 'throughout the period' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from the general overview to the specific data points. The structure is coherent and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Terms such as 'illustrates', 'experienced an overall decline', 'peaked', and 'significant increase' are used accurately in the context of describing trends. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for an Academic Task 1, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common lexical items could elevate the response further. However, there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the language is consistently natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'In 1960, the maximum number of jobs was in manufacturing, which stood at 15 million.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and the majority of sentences are error-free. There is a good control of tense usage, particularly the past simple for historical data. While the range of structures is solid, incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical forms could lead to a higher score.

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

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