Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-30

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 chart illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, retail and healthcare experienced significant growth during the period. In contrast, agriculture declined gradually, while manufacturing increased initially before falling considerably after 1980.

In 1960, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs, at around 15 million, followed by retail and agriculture, both at approximately 6 million. Healthcare had the fewest jobs, with only about 2 million. Manufacturing then rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Agriculture, meanwhile, decreased from 6 million in 1960 to around 3 million in 1980, where it remained until 2000, before falling slightly to about 2 million in 2020.

Retail and healthcare followed an opposite trend. Retail increased steadily from about 6 million jobs in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, reaching approximately 16 million in 2020. Similarly, healthcare grew considerably from just 2 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1980 and 11 million in 2000, before reaching around 16 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 the sectors is well-integrated, particularly the contrast between the declining sectors (agriculture and manufacturing) and the growing sectors (retail and healthcare). The information is accurate and logically presented, covering the entire period from 1960 to 2020. No significant features were omitted, and the summary is well-balanced.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear focus: the introduction, the overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. You have used cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'meanwhile', and 'similarly' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. The structure is coherent throughout, making the report easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends accurately, such as 'experienced significant growth', 'declined gradually', and 'followed an opposite trend'. The word choice is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common lexical items related to economic trends could elevate the response further. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the use of participial phrases ('reaching approximately 16 million in 2020') and subordinate clauses. The grammar is highly accurate, with no noticeable errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over sentence structure is consistent, contributing to the overall clarity of the report.

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.