Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-23

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 chart illustrates what anthropology graduates from one university did after completing their undergraduate degree courses, while the table provides information about the salaries of anthropologists after five years of work.

Overall, full-time employment was the most common career choice among anthropology graduates. In terms of salaries, freelance consultants earned the highest amount after five years of employment.

Looking at the chart in more detail, 52% of graduates went into full-time work, while 15% worked part-time. A further 12% were unemployed. Full-time postgraduate study and graduates with an unknown destination each accounted for 8%. Finally, only 5% chose part-time work while studying for a postgraduate degree.

Turning to the table, 5% of freelance consultants and government employees earned between $25,000 and $49,999, compared with 10% of those working for private companies. For the $50,000–$74,999 range, the figures were 15% for both freelance consultants and government employees, while private companies had 35%. In the $75,000–$99,999 range, the figures were 40%, 30% and 25%, respectively. Finally, 40% of freelance consultants, 50% of government employees and 30% of private-sector workers earned $100,000 or more.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses both the chart and the table. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the prevalence of full-time employment and the salary distribution across different sectors. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the data. You have also made relevant comparisons, particularly in the table section where you contrast the salary brackets for freelance consultants, government employees, and private-sector workers. The data is accurately reported, and the response covers all parts of the task well, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, the chart details, and the table details. Cohesive devices such as 'Looking at the chart in more detail', 'Turning to the table', and 'compared with' are used effectively to guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next without any confusion or repetition.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately. Phrases like 'career choice', 'freelance consultants', and 'private-sector workers' demonstrate a good grasp of topic-specific language. The vocabulary is precise and used naturally throughout the text. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or varied reporting verbs (e.g., 'accounted for', 'constituted', 'represented') could further enhance the lexical variety, but the current usage is already quite effective for this task type.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while the table provides...', 'compared with those working for...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with very few, if any, errors in punctuation or syntax. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence suitable for an academic writing task.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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