Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-14
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 what anthropology graduates from one university did after completing their undergraduate degree, while the table shows the salaries of those who were employed after five years.
Overall, full-time work was the most common destination for graduates, accounting for 52%. In addition, most graduates who were working after five years earned at least $50,000, with freelance consultants and government employees having the highest proportions of people earning $100,000 or more.
According to the pie chart, 15% of graduates worked part-time, while a further 5% combined part-time employment with postgraduate study. Full-time postgraduate study accounted for 8% of graduates. Meanwhile, 12% were unemployed and the destination of another 8% was not known.
The table shows that 40% of freelance consultants earned between $75,000 and $99,999, and an equal proportion earned $100,000 or more. The government sector had the largest percentage of employees earning over $100,000, at 50%. By comparison, 30% of private-company employees were in this highest salary group. Private companies had 35% of employees earning between $50,000 and $74,999, which was higher than the figures for freelance consultants and government workers, at 15% each.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends in both the pie chart and the table. The selection of data is relevant, and you have successfully made comparisons, such as noting that government employees had the highest proportion of top earners. The information is well-supported by the figures provided in the prompt. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant differences or similarities rather than just listing data points, though your current approach is already quite analytical and meets the requirements for a high score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed analysis of the two different data sets. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Meanwhile', and 'By comparison' are used appropriately to link sentences and ideas. The flow is natural, and the information is presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, which demonstrates a good level of control over the structure of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Terms such as 'destination', 'accounted for', and 'highest salary group' are used accurately in context. The language is appropriate for an academic report, and there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations related to data trends (e.g., 'predominant', 'marginal', 'disparity') could elevate the response further toward the highest band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the opening sentence which uses a subordinate clause effectively. Punctuation is accurate, and there are no major errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you show good control over tense usage when describing the data. To improve, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses to describe trends more concisely.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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