Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24
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 line graph provides information about the number of jobs in the manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, it is clear from the graph that number of jobs in the healthcare sector showed consistent growth while retail employment rose steadily until around 2000 before plateauing and slightly declining thereafter. In addition, manufacturing and agriculture experienced a long-term decline in jobs.
In 1960, manufacturing was the largest employer among the four sectors, with approximately 15 million jobs. It peaked at around 20 million in 1980, after which it fell steadily to roughly 13 million in 2020. In contrast, agriculture started with about 6 million jobs in 1960 and fell sharply to just under 2 million by 2020.
Healthcare began with the fewest jobs around 2 million in 1960; that it rose gradually to approximately 5 million jobs in 1980. After 1980, it climbed dramatically to nearly 16 million jobs by 2020. Meanwhile, retail employment accounted for 6 million jobs in 1960 from which it increased significantly to 15 million jobs in 2000. By the end of the period, this figure increased slightly to 16 million jobs.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
You have successfully identified the main features and trends of the four sectors. The overview clearly highlights the contrasting trajectories of the sectors, such as the growth in healthcare versus the decline in agriculture and manufacturing. You have selected relevant data points to support your descriptions, such as the peak of manufacturing in 1980 and the dramatic rise of healthcare. The response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear, logical summary of the provided graph. No significant information is omitted, and the comparisons between sectors are effectively made throughout the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is well-organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors logically. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'After 1980' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from a general summary to specific details about the sectors. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the declining sectors from the growing ones, which enhances the overall readability of the report. The flow of information is smooth and coherent throughout.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a data description task. Phrases like 'consistent growth', 'rose steadily', 'long-term decline', and 'fell sharply' are used accurately to describe trends. There is a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information with precision. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations related to economic trends could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is natural and effectively communicates the intended meaning without any errors that impede understanding.
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 the control of grammar is generally strong. There is a minor punctuation error in the sentence 'Healthcare began with the fewest jobs around 2 million in 1960; that it rose gradually...', where the use of the semicolon and the subsequent clause is slightly awkward. However, these are minor slips that do not affect the clarity of the report. The majority of your sentences are accurate, and the use of tense is consistent with the historical data provided.
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