Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-29
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 detail about the employment numbers in four different sectors (Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture and Healthcare) in the US from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, Manufacturing produced a large number of jobs for most of the period before receding. Retail and Healthcare showed a substantial increase in providing the employment numbers. However, Agriculture declined, went steady, and then eventually declined over the time frame.
Manufacturing dominated in providing the employment opportunities from 1960 to 2000. It provided 15 million jobs in 1960, which rose to almost 20 million jobs by 1980, before receding to just above 15 million in 2000, whilst retaining the top job provider position. Afterwards, it declined at just above 10 million in 2020. Agriculture, on the other hand provided just above 5 million jobs in 1960, which further reduced to just below 5 million in 1980 and retained this number till 2000 before dipping further in 2020.
Retail and Healthcare showed a significant growth over the time period. Although they started low with retail providing just above 5 million and Healthcare with far below 5 million jobs. But, by the end of the time frame both were the highest job provider sectors at just above 15 million.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response effectively identifies the main trends and key features of the graph. You have successfully highlighted the dominance of Manufacturing, the decline of Agriculture, and the significant growth of Retail and Healthcare. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise. For instance, stating that Retail and Healthcare were 'the highest job provider sectors' at the end of the period is accurate, but providing the specific approximate figures for both would have strengthened the analysis. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', 'on the other hand', and 'Although' are used to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the trends. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the general overview to specific details about the sectors. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the different parts of the graph is well-maintained throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'receding', 'dominated', and 'substantial increase' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'providing the employment numbers' (which is slightly unnatural; 'employment figures' or 'job numbers' would be better) and 'highest job provider sectors' (which is a bit clunky). However, these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is generally appropriate for an academic report, and you show an ability to use less common items to describe trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over grammar, and most sentences are error-free. However, there are some minor slips, such as 'declined at just above 10 million' (should be 'declined to') and the sentence fragment 'But, by the end of the time frame...' which starts with a conjunction. Despite these minor issues, the grammatical control is strong, and the errors do not cause any difficulty for the reader. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient for this task.
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