Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22
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 7.0)
The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 to 2020.
Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at the beginning at the period, but its figure decreased after reaching a peak. On the other hand, employment in retail and healthcare increased over the period. Agriculture showed overall decrease and had the lowest number of jobs at the end.
In 1960, there were 15 million job in manufacturing sector, compared with 6 million in both retail and agriculture. Healthcare had the lowest figure, at approximately 2 million. By 1980, manufacturing employment had increased to about 20 million, while retail had risen to 10 million. During the same period, agriculture fell to around 3 million, where as healthcare increased to approximately to 5 million.
After 1980, the number of jobs in manufacturing gradually decreased, reaching about 17 millions in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. In contrast, retail employment continued to rise reaching around 16 million by 2020. Healthcare also increased signficantly, from 5 millions jobs in 1980 to approximately 16 million in 2020. Meanwhile, agriculture remained at about 3 million in 2000 before falling to around 2 million in 2020
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
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 between 1960 and 2020. Key data points are accurately cited from the visual source, such as manufacturing starting at 15 million in 1960, peaking at around 20 million in 1980, and declining to 13 million by 2020. The comparison between sectors is well-handled, noting how retail and healthcare grew significantly while agriculture remained low and decreased slightly. The response satisfies all requirements of a well-structured Academic Task 1 report without any missing information or unsupported claims.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
Information and ideas are logically sequenced throughout the response, ensuring a clear progression from the introduction to the overview and detailed body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with distinct sections for the overview and specific data periods. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'On the other hand', 'In 1960', 'By 1980', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data comparisons. Referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow, supporting smooth readability from start to finish.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing statistical data and trends, using terms such as 'illustrates', 'peak', 'gradually decreased', 'continued to rise', and 'significantly'. There are a few minor lexical slips, such as 'at the beginning at the period' (repetition of 'at'), 'job' instead of 'jobs', and 'signficantly' (spelling error). However, these minor flaws do not impede communication, and the vocabulary used allows for clear and precise reporting of the chart's information.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, using time clauses and subordinating structures effectively (e.g., 'while retail had risen to 10 million', 'after reaching a peak'). There are a few minor grammatical errors, such as '15 million job in manufacturing sector' (missing article and pluralisation), 'where as' (split conjunction), and 'from 5 millions jobs' (unnecessary plural on 'millions'). Despite these occasional errors, the majority of sentences are accurate and communication is never impeded.
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