Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The chart below shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree course. The table shows the salaries of the anthropologists in work after five years.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparison where relevant.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

The pie chart illustrates the different types of work that students did after completing their undergraduate studies at the same university. In addition, the table demonstrates the salaries of Anthropology graduates after five years.

Overall, it is evident that full-time work accounted for the highest percentage among Anthropology graduates, while other categories recorded lower percentages. In addition, after five year graduation, employees in the government received the highest salaries as compared to the others.

In detail, full-time work accounted for 52% among Anthropology graduates, whereas part-time work stood at 15%, indicating a clear contrast between the two jobs. The proportion of unemployed Anthropology graduates was 12% after graduation. By comparison, full-time work with postgraduate study and the 'not known' category both stood at 8% among graduates. 5% graduates were employed in part-time work with postgraduate study.

The table shows a comparison of salaries after five years of work. In the $25,000-49,999 salary range, both freelance consultants and the government sector employees accounted for 5%, followed by private companies at 10%. For salaries between $50,000 and $74,999, both freelance consultants and the government sector workers received 15%. The figure increased to 35% for private company employees. Between $75,000 and $99,999, freelance consultant, the government sector, and private company employees recorded 40%, 50%, and 30%, respectively. For salaries over $100,000, employees earned 40% in freelance consultants, and then increased to 50% for the government sectors. The proportion of salary decreased to 30% for private companies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response covers all requirements of the task, providing a clear overview and selecting relevant data points from both the chart and the table. The main features are identified, such as the dominance of full-time work and the salary trends in the government sector. However, the analysis of the table is slightly mechanical, listing figures rather than synthesizing them into a more cohesive comparison. While the overview is present, it could be more analytical by highlighting the most significant trends rather than just stating that one category is higher than others. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two data sources. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'by comparison', and 'in addition' are used effectively to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive markers. The progression of information is logical, moving from the general chart data to the more specific salary table, which helps the reader follow the argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'accounted for', 'proportion', and 'sector' used correctly. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'after five year graduation' (should be 'five years after graduation') and 'employees earned 40% in freelance consultants' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. The student relies on basic reporting verbs and descriptive phrases, which are functional but not particularly varied or idiomatic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as '5% graduates were employed' (missing 'of') and 'the government sector, and private company employees recorded 40%, 50%, and 30%, respectively' (the comma before 'and' is unnecessary). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the response, and the mistakes do not impede communication. The use of complex structures is generally successful, though there is room for more variety in sentence construction to enhance the overall flow and precision of the report.

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