Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
The line graph illustrates information about the number of people employed in four sectors of the economy in the United States between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, the line graph tracks employment in four sectors of the economy, namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare. It is clear that healthcare and retail experienced an upward trend, whereas manufacturing and agriculture showed a decline towards the end of the period.
As shown in the line graph, healthcare was at its lowest level, with 2 million jobs in 1960, whereas manufacturing was at its highest level, with 15 million jobs. Moreover, healthcare employment increased by 3 million and reached 5 million in 1980. Furthermore, manufacturing reached a peak of 20 million jobs. This was the highest increase among the four sectors. However, in the following years, manufacturing employment began to decline, while healthcare employment continued to increase. Healthcare reached its peak of 16 million jobs in 2020, whereas manufacturing dramatically fell from 20 million to 13 million jobs in 2020.
Retail employment increased steadily, reaching a peak of 16 million jobs in 2020, compared with its lowest figure of 6 million in 1960. Furthermore, agricultural employment stood at 6 million jobs in 1960, but by 1980, it had dropped to 4 million and subsequently fell to 3 million in 2020.
In conclusion, healthcare and retail experienced an upward trend and surpassed manufacturing in 2020, whereas agriculture faced a downward trend throughout the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and reporting the key features and comparisons across all four economic sectors. The student accurately notes the upward trend in healthcare and retail, and the downward trends in manufacturing and agriculture, supporting these points with specific data points from the graph, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million jobs and healthcare reaching 16 million jobs in 2020. The selection of data is relevant and accurate, with no significant omissions or misinterpretations of the visual data. The information is well-selected to give a comprehensive summary of the trends over the 60-year period.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by a clear overview paragraph, body paragraphs detailing the specific data, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to link ideas, such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'in the following years', though some transitions can feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the data. Referencing is generally clear and easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suited to Task 1 writing, successfully using terms such as 'upward trend', 'downward trend', 'fluctuate', and 'dramatically'. Less common lexical items are attempted with reasonable accuracy, for example, 'surpassed', 'subsequently', and 'employment'. While there are a few minor word choice or collocation limitations, the vocabulary is varied enough to convey the information precisely and fluently without impeding communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response utilizes a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses introduced by 'whereas' and 'while'. There is a good level of control over grammar and punctuation. The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate, and the occasional complex structure is handled well. Errors are rare and do not impede communication at all. Tense usage is consistent and appropriate for describing past trends from 1960 to 2020.
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