Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04
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 about the number of jobs in four different sectors, namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare, in the US from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, the number of jobs in retail and healthcare increased over the period, while employment in agriculture declined steadily. Manufacturing employment increased initially, reaching a peak before falling significantly by the end of the period.
Looking more closely at the figures, employment in manufacturing started at 15 million in 1960. It then increased to a peak of 20 million in 1980. After that, the figure declined significantly, reaching 13 million in 2020. In contrast, employment in agriculture started at 6 million in 1960 and fell slightly to 3 million in 1980. It continued to decline steadily thereafter, reaching just 2 million in 2020.
On the other hand, the number of jobs in retail stood at 6 million in 1960. The figure then increased gradually throughout the period and reached 16 million in 2020. Similarly, healthcare employment started at 2 million in 1960 and rose considerably over the following decades, reaching 16 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
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 selected key data points to support your descriptions. The main features, such as the peak in manufacturing and the growth in healthcare and retail, are accurately identified and compared. The information is well-selected and logically presented, meeting the requirements for a Band 8.0. To reach a Band 9, ensure that the overview captures the most significant relationships between the categories even more explicitly, perhaps by highlighting the convergence of retail and healthcare at the end of the period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction to the overview, and then to detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly throughout the text. The use of referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent, justifying a Band 8.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing trends, such as 'declined steadily', 'increased gradually', and 'rose considerably'. The language is precise and natural, allowing for a clear description of the data. While the vocabulary is accurate and sufficient, it is mostly standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increased' and 'decreased' (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'experienced a downward trajectory') to show a wider, more flexible range of lexical items.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response displays a good variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences that are generally error-free. Your control over grammar and punctuation is strong, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex forms effectively. To move into the Band 8 or 9 range, you could experiment with more sophisticated grammatical structures, such as participial phrases or more varied subordinate clauses, to further enhance the fluency and complexity of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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