Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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 compares the number of jobs, in millions, in four sectors of the US economy – Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, and Agriculture – from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, employment in the service-oriented sectors of Retail and Healthcare saw a consistent and substantial increase over the six decades, ultimately eclipsing Manufacturing, which experienced a pronounced rise followed by a sharp decline. Agriculture, by contrast, remained a marginal and diminishing source of employment throughout the period.

In 1960, Manufacturing dominated the labour market, accounting for 15 million jobs, more than double the figure for Retail, which stood at 6 million. Healthcare and Agriculture provided employment for approximately 3 million and 3.5 million people respectively. Over the next twenty years, all sectors except Agriculture expanded. Manufacturing peaked at 20 million in 1980, while Retail rose to 10 million and Healthcare almost doubled to 5 million. Agricultural employment, meanwhile, edged down to around 2.5 million.

Between 1980 and 2020, trends diverged markedly. The number of manufacturing jobs contracted dramatically, more than halving to just 9 million by 2020. Conversely, Retail continued its steady upward trajectory, reaching a high of about 16 million and becoming the largest employer. Healthcare witnessed the most spectacular growth, surging from 5 million to roughly 15 million, thereby nearly converging with Retail. Agriculture remained the smallest sector, with employment falling slightly to 2 million.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The student fully addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the line graph. The overview paragraph accurately highlights the main trends, contrasting the growth in service sectors with the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. Key data points are selected effectively, such as noting manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and retail reaching 16 million by 2020. The comparisons made throughout the response are accurate and well-supported by the visual data. The figures reported are consistent with the graph, and the student successfully captures the overall dynamics without getting bogged down in unnecessary minor details, fulfilling all requirements of Task 1 to a high standard.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression from introduction to overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs. Information and ideas are presented in a coherent sequence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different periods and sectors, ensuring a smooth reading experience. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'By contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Conversely' are managed well and used naturally to guide the reader through shifting trends and comparisons without being overly mechanical or repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource appropriate for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the text, such as 'service-oriented sectors', 'eclipsing', 'pronounced rise', 'labour market', and 'upward trajectory'. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no inaccuracies in spelling or collocation, allowing the message to be communicated fluently and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The text displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and the writer demonstrates strong control over subordinate clauses, participial phrases ('accounting for 15 million jobs'), and comparative structures. Punctuation is accurate, and complex forms are handled naturally without any awkwardness or impedance to communication.

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