Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01
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 provides information on the availability of jobs in four sectors - manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare in four different sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, the number of jobs in the departments of retail and healthcare increased, while the employment rates in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors experience a decrease over the same period.
The employments rates in manufacturing sector experienced a growth from 15 millions in 1960 to 20 millions in 1980, before falling to roughly 13 millions in 2020. Meanwhile, the number of jobs in agriculture department decreased gradually from approximately 6 millions in 1960 to about 3 millions in 2020.
In 1960, the number of jobs in healthcare and retail stood at approximately 2 and 6 millions respectively. The figure for healthcare sector increased considerably to reach roughly 11 millions in 2000, and then approximately 16 millions in 2020. Similarly, employment rates in retail sector rose to 15 millions in 2000 before reaching approximately 16 millions in 2020. Consequently, healthcare and retail sectors surpassed manufacturing sectors in the number of jobs created in 2020.
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 covers all four sectors and identifies the main trends effectively. The overview is clear, highlighting the contrasting movements between the sectors. The data is generally accurate, with specific figures used to support the descriptions. However, there is a minor inaccuracy in the introduction where the student repeats 'in four different sectors of the economy' unnecessarily, and the description of the manufacturing sector's peak is slightly imprecise compared to the graph. Overall, the response provides a clear summary and makes relevant comparisons, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs. Each paragraph focuses on a specific grouping of data, which helps the reader follow the progression of information. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'Similarly', and 'Consequently' are used appropriately to link ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the trends. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, demonstrating a good command of organizational structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the task, with terms like 'availability', 'employment rates', and 'surpassed' used correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as using 'departments' instead of 'sectors' and 'millions' (which should be singular when preceded by a number, e.g., '15 million'). Despite these minor errors, the range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly and precisely. The student demonstrates an adequate range for the task, although it lacks the more sophisticated collocations that would be required for a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('employment rates... experience a decrease') and incorrect pluralization of 'million', these do not impede communication. The use of complex sentences is generally successful, though there is room for more variety in structure. Punctuation is generally accurate. The errors present are non-systematic and do not cause difficulty for the reader, which is consistent with the Band 6.5-7.0 range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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