Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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 information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing sector was dominating in the early decades, while the jobs in retail and health care sectors were also increasing steadily. By 2020, almost equal level of jobs were available in three sectors, while agriculture sector was declining continuously.

In 1960, almost 15 million jobs were available in manufacturing sector which was the largest in that year. This figure rose gradually to 20 million in 1980 and again started to decline to 13 million jobs in 2020. Similarly, about 6 million jobs were available in retail sector in 1960. This figure also increased steadily to 16 million jobs in 2020.

Turning to agriculture sector, approximately 6 million jobs were available in 1960. This figure started to decline continuously to 3 million jobs in 2020. Lastly, only 3 million jobs were accounted for health care sector in 1960 which was the least preferable job in that year. This figure started to rise gradually to 16 million jobs in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all four sectors and made relevant comparisons, such as noting the convergence of job numbers by 2020. The key features are highlighted well, and the data is accurately reported. To reach a higher band, ensure that your overview is more comprehensive; for instance, you could explicitly mention that while manufacturing peaked and fell, the service-related sectors (retail and health care) showed consistent growth. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the information effectively. You use cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'Turning to', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader through the data. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the progression between sentences is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows in a logical sequence from the general trends to specific sector details.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly, using terms like 'dominating', 'declining continuously', and 'accounted for'. There is some repetition of phrases like 'figure rose' and 'figure started to'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', 'fluctuated') and use more precise collocations. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for the highest bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and your meaning is consistently clear. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as missing articles ('the manufacturing sector', 'the agriculture sector') and occasional awkward phrasing like 'almost equal level of jobs were available'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent article usage and refining your sentence structure to include more varied complex forms would help improve your accuracy and range.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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