Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17
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 in four sectors of US economy between 1960 and 2020. Overall, manufacturing, retail, and health care experienced significant changes, while agriculture steadily declined.
In 1960, manufacturing was the largest sector, employing 15 million people. It peaked at 20 million in 1980 before steadily declining to 13 million by 2020. Retail started at approximately 6 million and grew consistently, reaching 16 million in 2020 and overtaking manufacturing.
Healthcare began with the fewest jobs at 2 million in 1960. However, it experienced continuous and rapid growth, reaching 11 million in 2000and matching retail at 16 million in 2020. Conversely, agriculture started at 6 million but dropped sharply to 3 million by 1980, remaining relatively stable before ending at 2 million in 2020.
By the end of the period, retail and health care had become the dominant sectors, while manufacturing and agriculture had lost significant numbers of jobs.
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 response fully addresses all parts of the task by selecting and reporting the main features of the line graph. You provided a clear overview at the beginning and end, noting the general trends such as the growth of retail and healthcare alongside the decline of manufacturing and agriculture. Key data points, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and healthcare matching retail at 16 million in 2020, are accurately cited from the visual data. The figures are appropriately rounded or stated as approximations (e.g., 'approximately 6 million'), and comparisons between sectors are well integrated throughout the body paragraphs. All information is factual and directly supported by the chart, demonstrating a high level of task fulfillment.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The report is logically sequenced and easy to read. Information is well-organized into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, moving into body paragraphs dedicated to specific sector trends, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Conversely', and 'By the end of the period' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data and highlight contrasts. Referencing is clear throughout, and paragraphing is managed skilfully and appropriately without any mechanical feel.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an Academic Task 1 response. Appropriate reporting verbs and adjectives/adverbs are employed, such as 'experienced significant changes', 'steadily declined', 'grew consistently', and 'dropped sharply'. There is successful use of less common items and collocation, including 'overtaking manufacturing', 'continuous and rapid growth', and 'dominant sectors'. Word choice is generally precise, and there are no spelling or lexical errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('While agriculture steadily declined', 'By the end of the period, retail and health care had become...'). Control of grammar and punctuation is strong, with the vast majority of sentences being error-free. There is a minor spacing typo ('2000and'), but this does not detract from overall readability or demonstrate a systematic grammatical weakness. Tense usage is consistently appropriate for describing past trends from 1960 to 2020.
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