Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14
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 data on the number of jobs in Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare in the USA between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, it can be seen that the Retail and the Healthcare employment followed an upward trend, whereas the number of jobs in Manufacturing and Agriculture sectors experienced a downward trend.
At the beginning of the period, the manufacturing sector had the highest employment, comprising of 15 million, while Retail and Agriulture sectors contained approximately 6 million. Notably, Healthcare sector had the lowest number of jobs of almost 3 million.
In 1980, the employment in Manufacturing sector reached its peak at 20 million, while Retail and Healthcare sectors increased drastically to 10 million, and by contrast, agriculture sector experienced a decline to almost 4 million.
By 2020, the employment in the Retail and Healthcare sectors rose substantially to approximately 16 million, whereas the Manufacturing and the Agriculture sectors collapsed to 13 million and 2 million respectively.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully covers all major features of the given graph. The introduction accurately paraphrases the prompt, and the overview clearly identifies the overall upward trends for Retail and Healthcare alongside the downward trends for Manufacturing and Agriculture. The body paragraphs effectively select and report key data points, such as the peak of Manufacturing at 20 million in 1980 and the contrasting trajectories of Retail and Agriculture. Comparisons are made appropriately across sectors and time periods, satisfying the core requirements of Task 1. The information is factual and directly supported by the visual data provided, showing clear development of the main trends without getting bogged down in minor details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organised with a clear overarching progression from the general introduction and overview to specific body paragraphs detailing starting points, intermediate changes, and final figures in 2020. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'by contrast', and 'whereas' are employed effectively to contrast the different economic sectors. Referencing is generally clear, helping the reader navigate the various categories of jobs over the timeline, though occasional minor enhancements in cohesive linking could elevate the text further.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, accurately employing terms related to graphs and trends, such as 'upward trend', 'downward trend', 'peak', 'decline', and 'substantially'. There are minor vocabulary and spelling slips, such as 'Agriulture' in the third paragraph, but these do not impede communication. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of collocation and style, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 6.5 or a solid Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The student uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'while Retail and Healthcare sectors increased drastically to 10 million, and by contrast, agriculture sector experienced a decline...'). Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with frequent error-free sentences. There are occasional minor slip-ups, such as omitting an article ('the' before agriculture sector) or minor punctuation issues, but these do not hinder comprehension and overall control of grammar is sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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