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 across four major sectors of the economy in the US over a 60-year period starting from 1960.Overall, the manufacturing industry was the dominant employer for the majority of the timeframe, while the agricultural sector consistently maintained the smallest workforce. Over the period, healthcare and retail experienced a steady upward trend, whereas manufacturing and agriculture showed an overall decline.In 1960, manufacturing jobs stood at approximately 15 million. This figure rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980 before steadily dropping to 13 million by the end of 2020. Conversely, the healthcare field expanded dramatically, with employment positions climbing from 2.5 million to 16 million over the 60 years.Between 1960 and 2000, the retail sector generated more jobs, showing a consistent increase of 5 million every two decades, which then plateaued from 2000 to 2020. Meanwhile, agriculture employed around 3 million people in 1980, which was half of its 1960 total, and experienced negligible changes from that point onward.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and effectively reporting the main features and trends of the four economic sectors. The data cited, such as manufacturing starting at 15 million and peaking at 20 million in 1980, matches the visual data accurately. Comparisons are made appropriately across categories and time frames, distinguishing between the upward trends of healthcare and retail and the declines in manufacturing and agriculture. The response fulfills the requirements of Task 1 comprehensively and accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from a general overview to specific details. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on different sector dynamics. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'Meanwhile', and referencing are managed well to guide the reader through the data smoothly, though occasional minor linking could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally precise range of vocabulary suitable for describing graphical data. Phrases like 'dominant employer', 'steady upward trend', 'expanded dramatically', and 'plateaued' show good control over less common lexical items. Word choice and collocations are largely accurate, with only rare minor awkwardness, allowing the communication to flow effortlessly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The text contains a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating control over grammatical forms. Sentences such as 'Conversely, the healthcare field expanded dramatically, with employment positions climbing from 2.5 million to 16 million over the 60 years' highlight a variety of structures used accurately. The majority of sentences are error-free, with only occasional minor slips that do not impede communication.

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