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 number of jobs, in millions, in four sectors of the US economy—manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare—from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing was the largest employer initially, but its employment declined considerably after peaking in 1980. In contrast, retail and healthcare experienced sustained growth, with healthcare recording the most dramatic increase. Agriculture followed a downward trend throughout the period.

In 1960, manufacturing provided around 15 million jobs, considerably more than retail and agriculture, at approximately 6 million each. Manufacturing employment then rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020.

Retail employment increased steadily, from 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980, then to 15 million in 2000, reaching approximately 16 million by 2020. Healthcare saw an even sharper rise, from just 2 million to 5 million between 1960 and 1980, before reaching 11 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020. By contrast, agriculture fell from 6 million to only 2 million overall.

AI examiner evaluation

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 features to illustrate the changes in the four sectors. The comparison between the sectors is well-integrated, particularly the contrast between the decline in manufacturing and agriculture versus the growth in retail and healthcare. The data is accurately reported, and the main trends are highlighted without unnecessary detail. This meets the requirements for a Band 8, as the information is well-selected and the overview is clear and relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'By contrast', and 'before falling to' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the trends. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the initial state to the final outcomes. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the overview from the detailed data analysis, contributing to a coherent and easy-to-follow structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends accurately, such as 'sustained growth', 'dramatic increase', and 'downward trend'. The word choice is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the participial phrase 'before falling to 17 million in 2000'. Punctuation is accurate, and the sentences are generally error-free. The control over complex structures is consistent, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The writing is clear and professional, reflecting a high level of accuracy throughout the text.

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