Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30
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 four sectors of the US economy, namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare, from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, manufacturing was the largest employer in 1960 but its workforce declined after 1980. In contrast, employment in healthcare and retail increased significantly over the period, with healthcare showing the most dramatic growth. Agriculture remained the smallest sector throughout.
In 1960, manufacturing provided about 15 million jobs, considerably more than retail and agriculture, which both stood at around 6 million, and healthcare, with just 2 million jobs. By 1980, manufacturing jobs reached a peak of 20 million. Meanwhile, retail rose to 10 million and healthcare to 5 million, whereas agriculture fell to approximately 3 million.
Between 1980 and 2020, manufacturing employment fell steadily to about 13 million. Conversely, retail and healthcare continued to rise. Retail reached 15 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020. Healthcare overtook manufacturing, growing from 11 million in 2000 to 16 million in 2020. Agriculture remained stable at around 2 to 3 million jobs during this period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting on all four economic sectors over the specified timeframe. A clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting manufacturing's initial dominance, the significant growth in healthcare and retail, and agriculture's consistently low figures. The data points cited, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and healthcare reaching 16 million in 2020, are accurate and faithfully reflect the provided visual data. Key comparisons are made effectively throughout the response, satisfying all requirements of the Band 8 descriptor for Task Achievement by presenting a well-developed overview and properly supported main features.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Ideas are structured logically across four paragraphs, moving from an introduction and overall trend summary into detailed descriptions of the earlier and later years. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', 'whereas', and 'Conversely' are used appropriately to link ideas and establish comparisons without being intrusive. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each paragraph serving a distinct purpose in the progression of information. Referencing is clear throughout, fulfilling the criteria for a high band score in Coherence and Cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Less common economic and descriptive terms such as 'workforce', 'dramatic growth', 'stable', and 'peak' are used accurately. Collocations are natural, as seen in phrases like 'largest employer' and 'fell steadily'. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated, it is precise and flexible enough to convey the data clearly and fluently. Word choices and spelling are accurate throughout, supporting a solid Band 7 rating for Lexical Resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The writing exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, including participial clauses and comparative structures (e.g., 'considerably more than retail and agriculture, which both stood at around 6 million'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is strong throughout. Punctuation is accurate, and verb tenses are handled correctly to describe past trends over a historical period. The mix of simple and complex forms is well-managed, aligning comfortably with the Band 8 criteria for Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
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