Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The line graph illustrates the changes in employment figures across four economic sectors in the United States, Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, and Agriculture from 1960 to 2020, measured in millions of jobs.

Overall, Healthcare and Retail experienced consistent upward trajectories throughout the 60-year period, with Healthcare exhibiting the most dramatic rise. Conversely, Manufacturing saw initial growth before experiencing a steady decline, while Agriculture remained the smallest employer with a slight downward drift.

In 1960, Manufacturing was by far the largest provider of jobs at 15 million, peaking at 20 million in 1980. However, this sector subsequently contracted, dropping to 17 million in 2000 and eventually falling to 13 million by 2020. In contrast, Retail started at 6 million in 1960 and climbed steadily over the decades, overtaking Manufacturing around 2015 to reach 16 million by the end of the timeframe.

Healthcare began as the smallest sector in 1960 alongside Agriculture, offering only 2 million jobs in 1960. Over the following six decades, Healthcare witnessed substantial and uninterrupted expansion, matching Manufacturing at approximately 14 million jobs in 2015 and concluding at 16 million in 2020. Conversely, Agriculture started at 6 million jobs in 1960, dipped sharply to 3 million in 1980, and then slowly diminished to finish at just under 2 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1 by providing a clear and comprehensive overview of the main trends and features in the graph. The student successfully identifies and summarises key data points, such as the peak of Manufacturing at 20 million in 1980 and the dramatic upward trajectory of Healthcare reaching 16 million by 2020. Relevant comparisons are made throughout the text, such as contrasting the growth of Retail with the decline of Manufacturing and Agriculture. The overview paragraph is particularly strong, accurately capturing the broader movements across all four sectors without getting bogged down in unnecessary minor figures. All parts of the prompt are well-addressed with accurate reporting of the data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The report demonstrates a clear and logical progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently organized, moving smoothly from a general introduction and overview to specific details in the body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each body paragraph dedicated to distinct sectors and comparisons. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'However', and 'In contrast' are managed very well to signal shifts in direction and contrast data sets effectively. Referencing is clear, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the relationships between the various economic sectors over the 60-year timeframe.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student exhibits a wide and flexible lexical resource appropriate for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items and phrases such as 'upward trajectories', 'dramatic rise', 'subsequently contracted', and 'uninterrupted expansion' are used with good awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are precise, effectively describing trends such as a 'sharp dip' and a 'downward drift'. There are virtually no spelling or lexical errors, and the vocabulary allows for precise reporting of numerical data and trends without sounding repetitive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex sentence structures used accurately and flexibly. The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical control. Punctuation is handled correctly, and clauses are joined smoothly using participial phrases and subordinate clauses, such as in 'overtaking Manufacturing around 2015 to reach 16 million by the end of the timeframe'. Minor slips are practically non-existent, and the grammar never impedes communication, easily meeting the high-band criteria for accuracy and range.

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