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 illustrates the number of jobs, measured in millions, in four sectors of the US economy—manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare—from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs for most of the period, although it experienced a decline after 1980. In contrast, retail and healthcare generally increased, while agriculture saw a continuous decrease. By 2020, retail and healthcare had become the sectors with the most jobs.
In 1960, manufacturing employed approximately 15 million people, compared with 6 million in retail and agriculture and only 2 million in healthcare. Manufacturing then rose significantly to 20 million jobs in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000 and around 13 million in 2020.
Retail followed the opposite trend, increasing steadily from 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000. It reached approximately 16 million jobs in 2020. Healthcare also grew considerably, from just 2 million jobs in 1960 to 5 million in 1980 and 11 million in 2000, before reaching about 16 million in 2020. Agriculture, meanwhile, fell from 6 million to only 2 million jobs over the period
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 main trends, such as the decline in manufacturing and agriculture versus the growth in retail and healthcare. The key features are well-selected, and the comparisons between sectors are accurate and relevant. The data is used correctly to support the descriptions, and the summary is logically structured. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant intersections or 'crossover' points in the data, such as when healthcare and retail overtook manufacturing, to provide a more analytical perspective.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By 2020', and 'meanwhile' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. The referencing is clear, and there is no repetition of information. The structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the trends accurately, such as 'experienced a decline', 'rose significantly', and 'grew considerably'. The terminology related to the graph (e.g., 'sectors', 'period', 'trend') is used correctly. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the task, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or precise reporting verbs to describe the intensity of the changes, such as 'plummeted' for the sharp decrease in agriculture or 'surged' for the growth in healthcare.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'Manufacturing then rose significantly to 20 million jobs in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are very few errors. The sentence structures are varied, and the meaning is always clear. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with more complex subordinate clauses or passive voice constructions to add further variety to your sentence structure.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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