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 has successfully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear summary of the main features and trends shown in the graph. The overview paragraph accurately captures the overarching movements, such as the dominance of manufacturing initially and the steady growth of healthcare and retail. Key data points are correctly cited, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and healthcare expanding to 16 million. Comparisons between the sectors are made effectively throughout the response, satisfying all requirements of Task Achievement at a high standard.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression from the introduction to the overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different timeframes and thematic groupings of sectors. Cohesive devices are managed well, using transition words like 'Conversely', 'Meanwhile', and 'This figure' to connect ideas smoothly and maintain a coherent flow throughout the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common lexical items are attempted and used with general accuracy, such as 'dominant employer', 'plateaued', and 'negligible changes'. Word choices are precise, and collocations are natural, such as 'steady upward trend' and 'overall decline'. There are no significant lexical errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer employs a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Grammatical control is strong, as seen in clauses like 'while the agricultural sector consistently maintained the smallest workforce' and 'which then plateaued from 2000 to 2020'. Punctuation is handled well, and the few minor mechanical issues do not interfere with readability, demonstrating a solid command of grammar.

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