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 compares the number of jobs in four sectors of the Economy of the U.S. from 1960 to 2020. Overall, there was an increase in the number of jobs offered by the retail sector & the healthcare sector. While, the manufacturing sector and Agriculture sector experienced a decline in the number of jobs offered.

To begin with, in the year 1960 the number of jobs offered by the manufacturing sector was 15 million which increased to 20 million in the year 1980. However, by the year 2000 the number of jobs offered by the manufacturing sector decreased to approximately 16 million which further fell to almost 13 million in the year 2020. Similarly, the agriculture sector initially offered 6 million jobs in 1960 which fell to 3 million in the year 1980 and it further steadily fell to 2 million by 2020. In contrast to this, the retail sector rose from 6 million jobs in 1960 to 10 million jobs in 1980. With a further increase to 15 million in year 2000 and eventually it reached a peak of 16 million by 2020. Additionally, the healthcare sector observed the most significant growth from 2 million jobs in 1960 to 5 million in 1980, then to 11 million in 2000 and finally 16 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as contrasting the growth in the retail and healthcare sectors with the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. The data is accurately reported, and the selection of key features is appropriate for an IELTS Task 1 response. To reach a higher band, ensure that your overview is even more distinct; for example, you could highlight that healthcare experienced the most dramatic transformation over the period. Overall, the response is well-structured and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a summary paragraph, and a detailed body paragraph. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', 'Similarly', and 'In contrast to this' to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific data points. To improve further, try to vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a repetitive structure, as some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Overall, the flow of information is clear and coherent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'experienced a decline', 'steadily fell', and 'reached a peak'. The use of terminology is accurate and appropriate for the context of an economic report. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the score to the highest bands. For instance, instead of repeating 'number of jobs offered', you could use synonyms like 'employment figures' or 'workforce numbers' to show greater lexical flexibility. The spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. There are minor issues, such as the use of the ampersand '&' in the introduction, which should be avoided in formal writing, and a slight awkwardness in the phrase 'While, the manufacturing sector...', where the comma is unnecessary. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To improve, focus on eliminating minor punctuation slips and incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as participial phrases, to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

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