Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-13

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, measured in millions, in four different sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, manufacturing was the largest employer at the beginning of the period, but its figure declined considerably after reaching a peak in 1980. In contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased steadily. Agriculture was the only sector to experience a continuous decline.

In 1960, manufacturing provided approximately 15 million jobs, which was considerably higher than the figures for retail and agriculture, at around 6 million each. Healthcare accounted for only about 2 million jobs. By 1980, manufacturing employment had risen to a peak of 20 million, while retail inc reased to roughly 10 million. During the same period, agriculture fell to about 3 million, whereas healthcare climbed to 5 million.

From 1980 onwards, manufacturing experienced a downward trend, falling to approximately 16.5 million jobs in 2000 and then to around 12.5 million in 2020. Meanwhile, retail continued to grow, reaching about 15 million by the end of the epriod. Healthcare also increased significantly from 5 million in 1980 to approximately 10.5 million in 2000, before reaching 15 million in 2020. Agriculture declined further to around 1.5 million jobs in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student provides a clear, well-structured overview of the main trends in the four sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020. All parts of the prompt are addressed successfully. The overview effectively highlights manufacturing's peak and subsequent decline, the steady growth in retail and healthcare, and the continuous downward trend in agriculture. Specific data points, such as manufacturing starting at approximately 15 million in 1960, peaking at 20 million in 1980, and falling to 12.5 million in 2020, are accurately cited and compared. The response is fully developed, accurate, and completely fulfills the requirements of Academic Task 1, earning a strong band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is exceptionally well-organized and easy to follow. Ideas are logically sequenced, beginning with a clear introductory paragraph, followed by a concise overall summary, and then two detailed body paragraphs categorized by chronological progression. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'In contrast,' 'Meanwhile,' and 'During the same period,' which help guide the reader smoothly through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately, separating the general trends from specific data descriptions. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to a seamless and coherent reading experience that aligns well with the higher-tier descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this task type. Terms related to data description and trends are used effectively, including 'considerably,' 'steady growth,' 'peak,' 'downward trend,' and 'continuous decline.' There are minor typographical errors, such as 'inc reased' and 'epriod' in the text, which appear to be accidental slips rather than a lack of underlying lexical knowledge. Less common vocabulary is integrated with a reasonable degree of precision and style. Communication is never impeded, and the overall vocabulary choice strongly supports the clarity of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer utilizes a good variety of sentence structures, successfully blending simple sentences for introducing key facts with complex structures for comparative analysis, such as clauses introduced by 'while,' 'whereas,' and 'before reaching.' Grammatical control is generally high, with the majority of complex sentences constructed accurately. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and numbers. While there are isolated typographical errors, they are non-systematic and do not hinder the reader's understanding. The grammatical range and accuracy comfortably satisfy the criteria for a high band score.

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