Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02
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 in four sectors of the US economy—manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare—from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at the beginning of the period and reached a peak in 1980 before declining considerably. By contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased substantially, while agriculture experienced an overall decline.
In 1960, manufacturing employed approximately 15 million people, compared with around 6 million in retail and agriculture combined and only 2 million in healthcare. Manufacturing then rose to a peak of 20 million jobs in 1980. However, its figure subsequently fell to about 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020.
Retail employment followed the opposite pattern, increasing steadily from approximately 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, before reaching around 16 million in 2020. Healthcare also experienced significant growth, rising from just 2 million jobs in 1960 to 5 million in 1980, 11 million in 2000 and approximately 16 million in 2020.
Agriculture was the only sector other than manufacturing to decline overall. Its employment figure fell from around 6 million in 1960 to 3 million in 1980, remained stable until 2000, and then decreased slightly to approximately 2 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response is excellent. You have successfully identified the main trends and key features of the graph, such as the peak in manufacturing and the significant growth in the retail and healthcare sectors. The overview is clear and provides a concise summary of the overall patterns. You have also made relevant comparisons, such as noting that retail and healthcare followed an opposite pattern to manufacturing. The data is accurately reported throughout the response, and the information is well-selected to support the summary. All parts of the prompt have been addressed thoroughly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the overview to specific details about the sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'However', and 'subsequently' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the general overview and the detailed body paragraphs is smooth. The information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, and the use of referencing is clear throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'declining considerably', 'increased substantially', and 'followed the opposite pattern' demonstrate a good level of precision. The vocabulary is natural and fits the context of describing economic trends well. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. While the range is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms for 'increased' or 'decreased' could further enhance the lexical variety, but the current level is already very strong for this task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, effectively. The punctuation is accurate, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the use of tense is consistent with the historical data provided in the graph. The control over complex structures, such as the comparison in the first body paragraph, is particularly good. Overall, the grammar is highly accurate and supports the clarity of the report.
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