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 the number of jobs, measured in millions, in four sectors of the US economy manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at the beginning of the period, but its figure declined after reaching a peak in 1980. In contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased substantially, with both sectors reaching approximately 16 million jobs by 2020. Agriculture followed the opposite trend, experiencing a gradual decline throughout the period.
In 1960, manufacturing employed 15 million people, considerably more than retail and agriculture, which each accounted for around 6 million jobs. Healthcare had the fewest employees, at only 2 million. Manufacturing employment then rose sharply to 20 million in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000 and approximately 13 million in 2020.
Meanwhile, retail employment increased steadily, from 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, before reaching about 16 million at the end of the period. Healthcare saw an even more dramatic rise, climbing from 2 million to 5 million in 1980 and 11 million in 2000, ultimately reaching 16 million in 2020. By comparision, agricultural employment fell from 6 million to just 2 million over the same 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 response fully satisfies the requirements of Academic Task 1 by providing a clear, accurate overview of the main trends and significant features shown in the graph. The student effectively groups data by comparing the four economic sectors across the 1960 to 2020 timeframe. Key milestones, such as manufacturing reaching a peak in 1980 at 20 million jobs and the substantial growth in both retail and healthcare to 16 million jobs, are accurately reported. The figures cited match the visual data closely and support the comparisons well without unnecessary repetition.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is well-organized and displays a clear logical progression throughout. The introduction effectively paraphrases the prompt, followed by a strong overview paragraph that highlights the primary trends. Subsequent paragraphs logically separate the body details into clear thematic groupings. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'before falling to' are used naturally and effectively to link ideas and guide the reader smoothly through the temporal data without mechanical over-use.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to describing statistical trends and economic sectors. Phrases like 'declined after reaching a peak', 'increased substantially', and 'experiencing a gradual decline' reflect appropriate collocation and precision. There is one minor spelling slip towards the end of the text ('By comparision' instead of 'By comparison'), but this does not impede communication. Less common lexical items are used effectively to vary the descriptions of upward and downward movements.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay displays a very good control of grammar and punctuation, utilizing a successful mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Clauses are integrated smoothly, as seen in sentences like 'Manufacturing employment then rose sharply to 20 million in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000 and approximately 13 million in 2020.' The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and any minor punctuation issues are absent. Grammatical structures are used flexibly to report changes over time accurately.
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