Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18
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 trends in the number of jobs in four major sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, the graph shows employment figures for the manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare sectors. Employment in the healthcare and retail sectors increased over the period, while the agriculture sector experienced a continuous decline. In contrast, the manufacturing sector showed fluctuations, with initial growth followed by a significant decrease after 1980.
Manufacturing was one of the largest employment sectors, starting at around 15 million jobs in 1960. The number of jobs in this sector increased until 1980 before declining steadily for the remainder of the period. On the other hand, the healthcare sector experienced substantial and consistent growth, with employment rising continuously throughout the 60-year period.
The retail sector also showed an upward trend, with job numbers increasing considerably from 1960 onwards. By contrast, employment in agriculture fell throughout the period. The decline was particularly noticeable after 2000, when the number of jobs dropped further. Overall, healthcare and retail expanded significantly, whereas manufacturing and agriculture recorded downward trends by the end of the period.
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 a clear and accurate summary of the main trends across the four sectors. An appropriate overview is included in the second paragraph, capturing the overall movements (upward trends for healthcare and retail, downward for agriculture, and fluctuations for manufacturing). Key features and comparisons are correctly highlighted, such as noting that manufacturing started at around 15 million in 1960 before peaking in 1980 and declining, while healthcare experienced consistent growth. The data points cited (e.g., 15 million jobs in manufacturing in 1960) align accurately with the visual data. The response meets all requirements for Task Achievement at a high level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introduction and overview, followed by well-structured body paragraphs that group information logically by sector trends. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'In contrast,' 'On the other hand,' and 'By contrast,' which help guide the reader through comparisons without feeling mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in presenting the data. The referencing and logical flow throughout the essay are strong and consistent.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this task type. Less common and precise items such as 'fluctuations,' 'substantial and consistent growth,' 'continuous decline,' and 'upward trend' are used accurately to describe statistical changes. Word choices and collocations are generally natural (e.g., 'employment figures,' 'job numbers increasing considerably'). There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, and the vocabulary allows for precise reporting of the visual data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentence forms, such as participial phrases ('starting at around 15 million jobs in 1960') and subordinate clauses ('while the agriculture sector experienced a continuous decline'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is strong throughout. Punctuation is accurate, and minor slips are absent. The grammatical range supports the clear and effective communication of complex trends.
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