Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The line graph illustrates changes in the number of jobs across four sectors of the economy in the US, namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare, over the period from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is evident that the figures followed varying trends over the given period, with some sectors increasing, while others declined or remained steady. Manufacturing recorded the highest figure at the beginning of the period, whereas agriculture had the lowest figure by the end of the period. However, healthcare increased significantly over the period.

Looking at the details, manufacturing stood at 15 million in 1960 and increased before reaching 20 million in 1980, and then fell dramatically to roughly 13 million by the end of the period. Moreover, healthcare was recorded at approximately 2 million in 1960, after which it rose sharply to around 16 million in 2020.

In 1960, retail started at approximately 6 million. Thereafter, it increased continuously to roughly 16 million by the end of the period. Furthermore, agriculture stood at approximately 6 million in 1960 and fell before reaching 2.2 million in 1980, and then remained steady at nearly 2 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student successfully covers all four economic sectors shown in the line graph across the designated timeframe (1960 to 2020). The response includes a clear and concise overview highlighting main trends and endpoints, such as manufacturing starting highest and healthcare's substantial upward trajectory. Key data points are accurately reported, including manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and healthcare rising from 2 million to 16 million. Comparisons are effectively made between the beginning and end of the period. The response meets all requirements for Task Achievement at a high level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph paraphrasing the prompt, followed by a well-crafted overview paragraph. The body paragraphs are logically grouped by sector trends and developments. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Thereafter', and 'whereas' are used appropriately and contribute to smooth transitions between ideas. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, ensuring that information is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to academic report writing. Phrases like 'substantive upward trajectory', 'rose sharply', 'fell dramatically', and 'remained steady' show good control of vocabulary related to data analysis. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate. While there is minor room for more advanced lexical items to push into the highest band, the range used is more than adequate to convey precise information clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a good variety of sentence structures, blending simple and complex sentences effectively. Examples such as 'Manufacturing recorded the highest figure at the beginning of the period, whereas agriculture had the lowest figure by the end' demonstrate control over complex clause structures. Grammatical accuracy is high, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Control of tense usage (past simple for historical data) is consistent and correct throughout the text.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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