Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26

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 graph illustrates the changes in employment figures across four us economic sectors—Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, and Agriculture—from 1960 to 2020, with values measured in millions.

Overall, Healthcare and Retail experienced continuous growth over the 60-year period, with Healthcare recording the most dramatic expansion. Conversely, Manufacturing saw initial growth followed by a sustained decline, while Agriculture consistently contracted maintaining the lowest employment figure throughout.

In 1960, Manufacturing was the dominant employer by a wide margin, accounting for 15 million jobs. This figure peaked at 20 million in 1980 before undergoing a steady downward trend, falling to 17 million in 2000 and dropping further to 13 million by 2020.

In contrast, Healthcare and Retail displayed significant upward trajectories. Starting at just 2 million in 1960, Healthcare employment rose moderately to 5 million in 1980, accelerated to 11 million in 2000, and ultimately reached 16 million in 2020, matching Retail as the leading employment sector. Retail followed a similar pattern, expanding steadily from 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980, before climbing further to reach 16 million by the end of the period.

Meanwhile, Agriculture began at 6 million in 1960—level with Retail—but plummeted to 3 million by 1980. It stabilized at this level until 2000, before tapering off slightly to finish at 2 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and selected key data points to support your descriptions. The comparison between sectors is well-integrated, particularly the observation that Healthcare and Retail converged at the end of the period. The data is accurately reported, and the distinction between the growth of service-based sectors and the decline of Manufacturing and Agriculture is clearly articulated. The response is well-structured and fully satisfies the requirements of an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and distinct body paragraphs for the different sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'In contrast', and 'Meanwhile' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related information, and the progression of ideas is smooth throughout the text. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure contributes to a coherent and easy-to-follow report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends, such as 'continuous growth', 'dramatic expansion', 'sustained decline', and 'upward trajectories'. The use of precise verbs like 'plummeted', 'stabilized', and 'tapering off' adds sophistication to the report. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used naturally to convey the information accurately. The range is sufficient to allow for flexibility and precision in your descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'maintaining the lowest employment figure throughout'). Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are very few errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips do not impede communication or detract from the overall clarity of the report. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.