Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in millions in four economic sectors of the United States—manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare—from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, the number of jobs in the retail and healthcare sectors was on the rise. However, at the end of the given time period, a downward trend is visible for the manufacturing and agricultural industries.
For the retail and healthcare sectors, the number of jobs was more than 15 million in 2020, which was just above 5 million and approximately 2 million in 1960, respectively. These two sectors experienced a gradual increase in numbers.
On the other hand, the manufacturing industry, which started with 15 million jobs in 1960, increased to 20 million by 1980. However, then it gradually decreased to less than 15 million in 2020. Though the agricultural industry also showed a similar decreasing trend, it never increased in the given years. Starting from just above 5 million, the number of jobs in this sector reached its lowest point at just above 1 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student covers all parts of the task well by reporting the main features of the four economic sectors over the 60-year period. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the upward trends in retail and healthcare alongside the downward trends in manufacturing and agriculture. Key data points, such as starting and ending figures, are correctly selected and contrasted, for example noting that retail and healthcare rose to more than 15 million in 2020 while agriculture dropped to just above 1 million. The information is accurate according to the visual prompt, and the response is well-structured as an academic task 1 report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organised with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by an overarching summary, and then divides the details into logical groupings: rising sectors in paragraph three and falling sectors in paragraph four. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', and 'On the other hand' are used effectively to signal relationships between ideas. Referencing is generally clear, such as using 'These two sectors' to link back to retail and healthcare, making the flow smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary used is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility and precision. The student successfully incorporates useful vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'downward trend', 'gradual increase', and 'lowest point'. While most vocabulary is standard rather than advanced, it is handled accurately. There are no notable spelling or word-choice errors, and terms like 'economic sectors', 'manufacturing industry', and 'agricultural industry' are deployed correctly within the context of reporting graphical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation, employing a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Complex structures, such as concessive clauses ('Though the agricultural industry also showed a similar decreasing trend, it never increased in the given years') and relative clauses ('which started with 15 million jobs in 1960'), are used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly, allowing the reader to navigate the text without any difficulty caused by grammatical lapses.
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