Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-25

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, measured in millions, across four different economic sectors manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare in the US from 1960 to 2020

Overall, it is clear that while employment in healthcare and retail experienced steady growth over the 60-year period, jobs in agriculture consistently declined. Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector saw an initial rise before experiencing a notable downturn.

In 1960, the manufacturing sector was the largest employer, peaking at 20 million jobs in 1980. However, over the subsequent decades, this figure plummeted to just 13 million by 2020. Conversely, agricultural jobs started at their highest point in 1960 and fell gradually every year, ultimately hitting a low of approximately 2 million at the end of the period.

In contrast, the retail and healthcare sectors began at the lowest points in 1960 but rose steadily over the next 40 years. Remarkably, by 2020, both fields converged to reach identical figures of 16 million jobs each

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features, trends, and comparisons across the four sectors shown in the line graph. An appropriate overview is provided at the beginning, identifying the main trends of growth, decline, and fluctuation. Key data points, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and the convergence of retail and healthcare at 16 million in 2020, are accurately cited from the visual data. The selection of information is well-balanced and meets all the requirements of an academic task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and well-structured body paragraphs detailing the specific data. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'Overall', 'Meanwhile', 'Conversely', and 'In contrast', which help guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately, ensuring that each economic sector and its trends are grouped logically. Referencing is clear throughout the text, contributing to a smooth and seamless progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited for describing data trends, using terms such as 'plummeted', 'converged', 'downturn', and 'steady growth'. Word choice is generally accurate and natural, displaying an awareness of collocations appropriate for academic reporting. Although minor punctuation slips occur (such as missing periods at the end of some sentences), the lexical control is solid and allows the communication of complex visual information with precision and ease.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response incorporates a good variety of complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses introduced by 'while', 'before', and 'where'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is strong throughout. Minor mechanical slips, such as the omission of final full stops at the end of paragraphs, are present, but these do not impede communication or detract from the overall high quality of grammatical range and accuracy demonstrated.

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