Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
The line graph illustrates the information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in US between 1960 and 2020. It is measured in millions
Overall, it is evident that the number of jobs in healthcare and retail sectors increased throughout the period. In contrast, the number of jobs in manufacturing and Agriculture sectors declined at the end of the of the period.
In 1960, the number of jobs in manufacturing sector stood at 15 and reached a peak of 20 in 1980. It declined steadily to approximately 17 in 2000, before reaching a low of about 13 in 2020. In the agricultural sector, approximately 6 jobs were accounted for in 1960, it reduced slightly to approximately 3 in 1980 and remained stable till 2000, before reaching a low of about 2.5 in 2020.
Regarding the healthcare and retail sectors, the number of jobs stood at approximately 2 and 6 in 1960 respectively, and increased steadily to 5 and 10 in 1980 respectively. In 2000, both sectors increased to about 11 and 15 respectively before reaching a high of approximately 16 in 2020.
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 student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features, trends, and comparisons across the four economic sectors in the US between 1960 and 2020. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the overall upward trajectory of healthcare and retail alongside the declines in manufacturing and agriculture. Data is accurately cited from the visual source, such as the peak of manufacturing at 20 million in 1980 and the steady rise of retail and healthcare. While minor units (such as 'jobs' instead of 'jobs in millions') are occasionally omitted in phrasing, the key trends and figures are well-reported and clearly grounded in the visual data, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. The information is effectively divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing the respective sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'before reaching', and 'Regarding the' are used to guide the reader through the data smoothly. Referencing is generally clear, and the logical sequencing ensures that comparisons between sectors are easy to follow. Although cohesion is sometimes slightly formulaic, it meets the standard for a solid Band 7.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for an Academic Task 1 response, employing terms such as 'illustrates', 'declined steadily', 'reached a peak', 'remained stable', and 'respectively'. Less common lexical items and collocations are attempted with reasonable success (e.g., 'agricultural sector', 'steady rise'). There are minor awkwardness issues, such as omitting units when stating raw numbers (e.g., 'approximately 6 jobs were accounted for'), but these do not impede communication. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient for a Band 6.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('before reaching a low of about 13 in 2020') and coordinate clauses. Grammatical control is generally good, with frequent error-free sentences. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and list data points. While there is a minor preposition slip in the opening sentence ('in US' instead of 'in the US') and a repeated word ('of the of the period'), these errors are rare and do not impede understanding, placing the writing comfortably at Band 7.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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