Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19
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 millions, in four sectors of the US economy—manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare—in 1960, 1980, 2000 and 2020.
Overall, employment increased considerably in the retail and healthcare sectors, while agriculture experienced a gradual decline. Manufacturing fluctuated, reaching a peak in 1980 before falling to its lowest level in 2020.
Manufacturing had 15 million jobs in 1960, and this figure rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980. It then declined to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. By contrast, retail employment increased steadily throughout the period, from 6 million in 1960 to 10 million in 1980, 15 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020.
Healthcare experienced the most dramatic growth. The number of jobs rose from just 2 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1980, before more than doubling to 11 million in 2000 and reaching 16 million in 2020. Agriculture followed the opposite trend, falling from 6 million jobs in 1960 to 3 million in 1980. It remained unchanged at 3 million in 2000 and then declined slightly to 2 million in 2020.
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. The student presents a clear, well-developed overview in the second paragraph that effectively captures the overarching trends ('employment increased considerably in the retail and healthcare sectors, while agriculture experienced a gradual decline'). Key features are well selected and accurately reported from the visual data, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 before falling, and healthcare exhibiting the most dramatic growth from 2 to 16 million. Data points are appropriately cited throughout to support the description, and relevant comparisons are made between the four sectors across the given time intervals.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The report demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly, with each sector or group of sectors given dedicated attention in logical sequence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices are managed well without being intrusive, utilizing appropriate referencing and transition signals like 'By contrast' and 'before more than doubling' to connect ideas smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student employs a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to describing statistical data and trends, such as 'considerably', 'gradual decline', 'fluctuated', 'reaching a peak', and 'dramatic growth'. Word choice is generally precise, and the writer demonstrates a good awareness of collocation in an academic context. There are no noticeable lexical errors or inappropriate word choices that impede communication, maintaining a natural flow throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
A wide variety of complex sentence structures is used effectively and accurately. The majority of sentences are error-free, displaying strong control over grammatical structures and punctuation. Examples such as 'The line graph illustrates...' and 'The number of jobs rose from just 2 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1980, before more than doubling...' show a high level of grammatical flexibility. Minor slips are virtually absent, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout.
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