Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07

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 presents a comparison of the number of jobs in four different sectors of the economy in the US from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, the manufacturing sector had the highest number of jobs for most of the period, although its figure decreased considerably after reaching a peak in 1980. Agriculture also declined, while retail and healthcare showed upward trends. By 2020, retail and healthcare had the same number of jobs.

In 1960, the manufacturing sector had about 15 million jobs. The figure increased considerably to 20 million in 1980, which was its peak, before falling to approximately 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Agriculture, on the other hand, showed a downward trend. Its figure decreased from about 6 million in 1960 to 3 million in 1980, then remained stable at around 3 million in 2000 before falling slightly to about 2 million in 2020.

In contrast, the number of jobs in retail increased throughout the period. It started at around 6 million in 1960 and rose to 10 million in 1980. The figure then increased considerably to about 15 million in 2000, before rising slightly to approximately 16 million in 2020. Similarly, healthcare started with only about 2 million jobs in 1960. The figure rose to around 5 million in 1980 and 11 million in 2000, before reaching 16 million in 2020.

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 main trends and successfully identified key features, such as the peak in manufacturing and the convergence of retail and healthcare by 2020. The data is accurately reported, and comparisons are made throughout the text, such as contrasting the downward trend of agriculture with the upward trajectory of the other sectors. The information is well-selected and supports the summary effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'main features' are highlighted even more distinctly in the overview, perhaps by explicitly noting the significant shift in the dominant sector from manufacturing to healthcare/retail.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, moving from the overview to the specific details of the four sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'on the other hand' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the different sectors is clearly established. The use of referencing is accurate, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparison between the years and the sectors described.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information with precision. Phrases like 'upward trends', 'downward trend', 'remained stable', and 'reached a peak' are appropriate for describing graph data. The vocabulary is natural and allows for a clear description of the trends. While the range is adequate and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or varied synonyms for 'increased' or 'decreased' (such as 'surged', 'plummeted', or 'fluctuated') would demonstrate a wider, more flexible range of lexical resource, which is characteristic of the highest band levels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'The figure increased considerably to 20 million in 1980, which was its peak, before falling to approximately 17 million in 2000'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, to further demonstrate your command of English grammar.

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