Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-28

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 employment across four sectors of the US economy between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, Retail and Healthcare experienced substantial growth in the number of jobs, while Manufacturing rose initially before declining. Agriculture, by contrast, decreased and remained the smallest sector towards the end of the period.

In 1960, Manufacturing had the highest employment figure, at 15 million, and this increased significantly to a peak of 20 million in 1980. However, employment in this sector subsequently declined, reaching approximately 13 million by 2020. Agriculture, meanwhile, employed 6 million people in 1960, equal to the figure for Retail, before falling to 3 million in 1980. It remained stable until 2000 and then declined slightly to 2 million in 2020.

Retail and Healthcare followed an upward trend throughout the period. Retail increased steadily from 6 million jobs in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, before reaching 16 million in 2020. Healthcare experienced even more dramatic growth, rising from just 2 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1980 and 11 million in 2000. By 2020, it had reached 16 million, matching Retail.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1 by providing a clear, accurate, and well-supported overview of the main trends shown in the graph. The student successfully identifies key features, such as the substantial growth in Retail and Healthcare, the peak and subsequent decline in Manufacturing, and the downward trend in Agriculture. Accurate figures from the visual data, including starting points, peaks, and final values (e.g., Manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and ending at 13 million in 2020), are correctly reported and contrasted where relevant. There are no significant omissions or inaccuracies, demonstrating a fully developed and well-executed response that meets the Band 8 descriptor criteria.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The report displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped logically by sector and time period across four well-structured paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'Overall', 'meanwhile', 'before falling', and 'By 2020', which help guide the reader smoothly through the data comparisons. Referencing is clear, and paragraphing is managed appropriately with a distinct introduction, overall trend statement, and detailed body paragraphs. The progression from general trends to specific data points is seamless, earning a solid Band 8 score for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task. Less common and precise lexical items are used effectively to describe statistical changes, such as 'substantial growth', 'peak', 'declined', 'stable', and 'dramatic growth'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate throughout, as seen in phrases like 'employment figure' and 'upward trend'. While the vocabulary is fluent and natural, there is occasional repetition of standard reporting verbs rather than a wider variety of sophisticated synonyms. This places the lexical performance comfortably at Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response features a good variety of complex sentence structures, including participial phrases ('reaching approximately 13 million by 2020') and subordinate clauses ('before falling to 3 million in 1980'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. Minor slips are virtually absent, and complex structures are handled with good accuracy, allowing for clear and precise communication of the data. The grammatical control consistently aligns with the high standards of Band 8.

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