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 across four different economic sectors in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the services and technology sectors experienced significant upward trends over the 60-year period, while employment in manufacturing and agriculture declined steadily. By the end of the period, services emerged as the largest employer.

In 1960, agriculture provided the highest number of jobs, standing at approximately 20 million, followed closely by manufacturing at around 15 million. However, both sectors saw a continuous drop over the decades. By 2020, agricultural employment had fallen dramatically to under 5 million, while manufacturing jobs decreased to roughly 8 million.

Conversely, the services sector started at around 10 million jobs in 1960 and grew rapidly, surpassing all other sectors by 1980 to peak at over 22 million in 2020. The technology sector, which began with the lowest figure of about 2 million jobs, showed consistent growth throughout the period, reaching approximately 12 million by 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 successfully selected and reported the main features of the graph. The comparison between the declining sectors (agriculture and manufacturing) and the growing sectors (services and technology) is well-executed. You have used data points accurately to support your descriptions, such as noting the peak of the services sector at over 22 million and the starting figures for agriculture. The information is well-selected, and the summary is concise and accurate, meeting all requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overall summary, the declining sectors, and the growing sectors. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Conversely', 'However', and 'By the end of the period', which help guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the structure supports the overall clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have demonstrated a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases such as 'significant upward trends', 'declined steadily', 'fallen dramatically', and 'surpassing all other sectors' are well-chosen and appropriate for an academic report. The vocabulary is natural and allows for a clear description of the trends without any inaccuracies that might impede communication. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms for 'jobs' or 'growth' could further elevate the response, but the current level is already quite strong and effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('surpassing all other sectors') and subordinate clauses ('which began with the lowest figure'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is consistent throughout the text. There are no grammatical errors that hinder understanding. The sentence structures are varied, moving between simple and complex forms, which demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence suitable for this task.

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