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 shows data regarding the number of jobs in four economic sectors in the US between 1960 and 2020.Overall, it is clear that Healthcare and Retail showed an upward trend, while Agriculture saw a downward trend. Additionally, Retail and Healthcare became the highest groups by the end of the period, while Manufacturing fell from its top position.Looking at the details, in 1960, the figure for Manufacturing was 15 million, which was higher than Retail at 6 million. Over the next 20 years, the number for Manufacturing increased steadily and reached a peak of 20 million in 1980. On the other hand, the data for Agriculture decreased, dropping from 6 million to stay around 3 million for most of the period.Regarding the other categories, Healthcare started at 2 million and then rose sharply to finish at 16 million in 2020. In contrast, Manufacturing dropped significantly from its 1980 peak down to 13 million in 2020. By the final year, both Healthcare and Retail had passed Manufacturing to become the largest sectors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main features, trends, and comparisons of the four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The overview effectively captures the overall upward trend of Healthcare and Retail, the downward trend of Agriculture, and the shifting position of Manufacturing. Key data points, such as Manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and Healthcare rising to 16 million, are accurately cited from the visual data. The response meets all requirements for Task Achievement at a high level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The report is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Ideas are well organized into an introduction with an overview, followed by clear body paragraphs detailing the data points. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Additionally', 'On the other hand', and 'Regarding the other categories' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the information without being intrusive. Paragraphing is used effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally accurate range of vocabulary appropriate for Task 1, including terms like 'upward trend', 'downward trend', 'peak', 'steady', and 'fluctuate'. Less common phrases such as 'highest groups', 'top position', and 'largest sectors' are integrated effectively. Word choice and collocations are natural throughout, with no significant errors that hinder communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The student uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'which was higher than Retail at 6 million' and 'while Manufacturing fell from its top position'. Grammatical control is strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is generally accurate, and occasional complex structures are handled well without impeding communication.
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