Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31

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 number of jobs, measured in millions, in four different sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing was the largest source of employment at the beginning of the period, but its figure declined after reaching a peak in 1980. In contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased considerably over the period. Agriculture experienced a gradual decline and remained the smallest employment sector by 2020.

In 1960, manufacturing accounted for approximately 15 million jobs, making it the largest sector. This figure then rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980, before falling steadily to around 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Meanwhile, retail started at about 6 million jobs in 1960 and increased consistently, reaching 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000. By 2020, it had risen further to approximately 16 million jobs.

Healthcare also showed substantial growth. Starting at only around 2 million jobs in 1960, employment increased to 5 million in 1980, before climbing sharply to about 11 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020. By the end of the period, healthcare had therefore become one of the two largest sectors. In comparison, agriculture declined from roughly 6 million jobs in 1960 to 3 million in 1980 and 2000, before falling slightly to around 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 trends and selected key features to highlight, such as the peak in manufacturing and the growth in healthcare and retail. The data is accurately reported, and comparisons between the sectors are made throughout the text. The information is well-selected and supports the summary effectively, meeting the requirements for a high band score by providing a comprehensive and accurate overview of the provided graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'In comparison' are used naturally to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, and the progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow throughout the entire report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends accurately, such as 'declined', 'increased considerably', 'rose to a peak', and 'climbing sharply'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is varied enough to convey the information clearly and professionally without repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'This figure then rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980, before falling steadily to around 17 million in 2000'. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over tense and sentence structure is consistent throughout the text.

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