Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-15
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 compares the number of jobs in four different sectors of the US economy, including Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare, from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, it can be seen that Healthcare and Retail experienced an upward trend over the period, while Agriculture decreased. Manufacturing showed a fluctuating pattern, increasing first before falling.
In 1960, Manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at 15 million, while Healthcare had the lowest with only 2 million. Retail started at 6 million jobs, and Agriculture had around 6 million as well. By 1980, Manufacturing peaked at 20 million jobs, but after that, it fell steadily to 13 million in 2020. On the other hand, Agriculture dropped to 3 million in 1980 and remained steady until 2000, before falling slightly to 2 million in 2020.
In contrast, the other two sectors grew continuously. Retail jobs increased steadily from 6 million in 1960 to reach 16 million by 2020, becoming the sector with the most jobs. Similarly, Healthcare jobs rose significantly from 2 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1980, then reached 11 million in 2000, and finally ended at 16 million in 2020, matching the Retail sector.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing an accurate overview of the main trends and reporting key data points effectively. The visual data is read correctly, identifying that Healthcare and Retail experienced upward trends while Agriculture declined and Manufacturing fluctuated. For instance, the student notes that 'Manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at 15 million' in 1960 and accurately tracks its peak and subsequent decline. Key comparisons are made throughout the text, such as noting that Healthcare and Retail both ended at 16 million jobs in 2020. The selection of data is relevant and well-supported, meeting the requirements for a high band score under Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. Information is grouped sensibly into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing specific sectors and their movements over time. Paragraphing is used appropriately. Cohesive devices are handled well, using phrases like 'Overall, it can be seen that', 'In 1960', 'after that', and 'In contrast' to guide the reader smoothly through the text and establish clear relationships between the data points. Referencing and substitution are clear and maintain cohesion throughout the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student uses a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this task type, incorporating functional terms related to data trends such as 'upward trend', 'fluctuating pattern', 'peaked', 'fell steadily', and 'grew continuously'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate and natural, as seen in phrases like 'dropped to 3 million in 1980 and remained steady until 2000'. There are no significant lexical errors that impede communication, and the vocabulary demonstrates good flexibility in describing graphical data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures alongside simple forms, showing good control over grammar and punctuation. Examples include subordinate clauses ('while Agriculture decreased', 'before falling slightly') and coordinated clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and any errors are extremely minor. Punctuation is accurate, aiding readability, and verb tenses (primarily simple past) are handled consistently to describe past trends from 1960 to 2020.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.