Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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 tracks the changes in the number of jobs across the manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare sector in the US, from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, while the manufacturing sector employed the most people in the earlier decades, it fell towards the end and was overtaken by the retail and the healthcare sector, which saw gradual progress. Employment in the agriculture sector also witnesses a decline over the years.

To begin with, manufacturing sector began as the largest employer in 1960, employing 15 million people, whereas retail had only approximately 6 million jobs. Both the sectors witnessed a sharp rise in 1980, with manufacturing jobs reaching their peak at 20 million and retail sector recording 10 million jobs. While the manufacturing sector declined steeply over the years reaching its lowest point at 13 million jobs in 2020, the retail sector showed a gradual increase, overtaking the manufacturing sector between 2000 and 2020, becoming the most employable sector, along with healthcare, in 2020 at around 16 million jobs.

The agriculture and the healthcare sector also showed similar patterns. Agriculture began at around 6 million jobs in 1960, whereas the healthcare sector started at approximately 2 million jobs, the lowest number of the graph. However, the jobs in the agriculture sector gradually declined over the course of the next 60 years, reaching 2.5 million jobs in 2020. By contrast, the healthcare sector saw a marked increase and overtook the agriculture sector between 1960 and 1980. The number of jobs grew rapidly from 5 million in 1980 to 11 million in 2000, and reaching their highest point in 2020 at around 16 million jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your descriptions. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the key shifts in the US economy, such as the decline of manufacturing and the rise of healthcare and retail. The comparison between sectors is well-integrated throughout the report. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are precise; for example, ensure the distinction between 'most employable' and 'highest number of jobs' is clear, as these terms are used slightly loosely here.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, and the use of cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'by contrast', and 'however' is effective in linking information. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the overview from the detailed body paragraphs. The flow is generally smooth, though some transitions could be slightly more sophisticated to avoid a mechanical feel. Overall, the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'marked increase', 'gradual progress', and 'steeply declined' are used appropriately. There are minor issues with word choice, such as 'most employable sector', which is not the most natural collocation for describing employment numbers. However, the vocabulary is generally accurate and allows for a clear description of the trends shown in the graph. You have successfully avoided repetitive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There is good control over grammar, with only occasional errors, such as 'the manufacturing sector began' (missing article) or 'the agriculture and the healthcare sector' (inconsistent article usage). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. The use of complex structures, such as 'while the manufacturing sector declined... the retail sector showed...', demonstrates a good command of sentence variety.

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