Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27
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 chart shows the number of jobs across four different sectors in the US at 20-year intervals.
Overall, there are two sectors with a significant increase since 1960 to 2020, retail and healthcare. As for the manufacturing field, the diagram shows a slight growth before declining steadily. Available jobs in agriculture continues to decline since 1960, making it the lowest trend on the graph by 2020.
In 1960, retail had approximately 6 million jobs in the field and healthcare had less than 5 million. However, the job market grew and the figure has been consistently growing every twenty years and by 2020, both sectors have over 15 million jobs. Manufacturing had the most jobs across all sectors with 15 million jobs available in 1960, making it at the highest position at that time. The number jumped to 20 million in 1980, but dropped back close to the initial number in 2000 and in 2020, it is lower than 15 million. The agriculture sector had slightly above 5 million jobs in the field when the data was first being recorded, however, the figure continues to drop and by 2020 there are close to zero job available in this sector.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the four sectors. You have highlighted the key features, such as the growth in retail and healthcare and the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. The data is accurately reported, and comparisons are made effectively between the sectors. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are described with maximum precision; for instance, when mentioning the decline in agriculture, avoid absolute terms like 'close to zero' if the graph shows a small remaining figure. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the significant changes over the 60-year period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors by their trends. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'As for', and 'In 1960' are used to guide the reader through the information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed data analysis. The progression of ideas is clear, though the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be slightly smoother to enhance the flow. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'significant increase', 'declining steadily', and 'job market' are used appropriately. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'lowest trend' (a trend is not usually described as 'lowest') and 'at the highest position' (which is slightly awkward). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'upward trajectory' or 'plummeted'. The vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the majority of sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'Available jobs in agriculture continues to decline' (subject-verb agreement error: 'jobs' is plural) and 'making it at the highest position' (preposition error). Punctuation is generally handled well, though some sentences could be refined for better clarity. The errors present do not impede communication, but more consistent control over complex structures would be required for a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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