Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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 changes in the number of jobs across four different sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, employment in the Retail and Healthcare sectors experienced a significant upward trend, whereas the Manufacturing and Agriculture sectors saw a general decline over the period. Initially, Manufacturing was the dominant employer, but it was eventually surpassed by Retail and Healthcare by the end of the timeline.

In 1960, Manufacturing had the highest number of jobs, standing at exactly 15 million. In contrast, both Retail and Agriculture employed around 6 million people each, while Healthcare had the fewest employees at approximately 2 million. By 1980, Manufacturing peaked at 20 million. During this same year, Retail had grown to 10 million, while Agriculture had dropped to 3 million, making it the sector with the lowest employment figures at that time.

From 1980 onwards, Manufacturing began a steady decline, reaching around 17 million in 2000. Meanwhile, Agriculture remained relatively stable before declining slightly to about 2 million by 2020. Conversely, Retail and Healthcare continued to grow. Retail surpassed Manufacturing around 2008, and Healthcare followed suit around 2012. By 2020, both Retail and Healthcare had become the largest employers, each accounting for approximately 16 million jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends, noting the growth in Retail and Healthcare versus the decline in Manufacturing and Agriculture. The key features are well-selected, such as the peak of Manufacturing in 1980 and the crossover points where Retail and Healthcare became the dominant sectors. The data is accurately reported, and comparisons are made logically throughout the text. The response is well-structured and covers the entire period from 1960 to 2020, ensuring all parts of the prompt are fully addressed.

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 overall summary, the initial state in 1960/1980, and the subsequent trends leading to 2020. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Conversely' are used effectively to link ideas and contrast the different sectors. The paragraphing is logical, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next, making the report easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends accurately, such as 'significant upward trend', 'dominant employer', 'peaked', and 'surpassed'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms to describe the movements of the lines, though the current range is more than adequate for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while Agriculture had dropped to 3 million') and participial phrases. The punctuation is accurate, and there are virtually no grammatical errors throughout the text. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense usage (past simple for historical data) is consistent and correct.

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