Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23

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 chart illustrates the employment figures in four different sectors of the US economy from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is clear that the manufacturing industry had the highest employment figures initially. In contrast, the retail and healthcare industries had the lowest starting figures, but they both ended with a sharp boost in their employment by the end of the period.

In 1960, the manufacturing industry ranked the highest among all categories provided, accounting for approximately 15 million jobs. However, this figure dropped gradually over the period until 2020. Meanwhile, the agriculture industry had fewer positions, standing at just over 5 million in 1960, and this figure was not maintained, dropping marginally by 2020.

The retail industry began with just over 5 million job positions and climbed significantly from 1960 to 2000. However, this figure remained steady up to the ending year of 2020. In comparison, the healthcare industry began with the lowest statistics at around 0.3 million positions in 1960, but climbed sharply to reach 15 million by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing an overview and selecting key features and comparisons from the graph. The response highlights manufacturing as the initial leader and details the contrasting trajectories of retail, healthcare, and agriculture. However, there are a few minor inaccuracies in data reporting; for instance, the healthcare industry in 1960 started at around 2 million, but the student states it was 'around 0.3 million positions'. Similarly, retail is described as remaining steady between 2000 and 2020, whereas the graph shows retail rising slightly from 15 to 16 million. Despite these minor misreadings, the overall trends are accurately captured and the main features are successfully reported, fitting the Band 7 descriptor well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, followed by a clear overview paragraph, and then body paragraphs that logically group the data by economic sectors. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'However', and 'Meanwhile' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons and trends. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in the report. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to a smooth and coherent reading experience that satisfies the requirements for Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'employment figures', 'accounting for', 'dropped gradually', and 'climbed significantly' are used effectively to describe statistical trends. There are occasional attempts at less common vocabulary, though some inaccuracies occur, such as the misreading of the healthcare starting point leading to an unusual figure, and minor phrasing choices. However, the lexical range is sufficient for precision, and spelling and word choice errors do not impede communication, placing the response comfortably within Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'while the agriculture industry had fewer positions, standing at just over 5 million in 1960, and this figure was not maintained'). Grammar and punctuation are handled with general competence, and there are frequent error-free sentences. While there are minor slips, such as coordination of clauses or slight awkwardness in phrasing ('up to the ending year of 2020'), these errors do not impede communication. The control of grammar aligns well with the Band 7 descriptor.

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