Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-05

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 7.0)

The pie chart illustrates the destination of Anthropology graduates after completing their undergraduate degree. The table compares the salaries of the anthropologists in the field after five years.

Overall, full-time work accounted for the largest proportion, whereas the graduates doing part-time work and those unemployed were quite similar. However, a very small percentage of graduates were engaged in part-time work along with postgrad study.

Full-time work was by far the most popular type of job, accounting for 52%, while the proportion of graduates doing part-time work and those unemployed were relatively similar, at 15% and 12% respectively. However, the proportions of graduates pursuing full-time postgrad study and those who were unknown were identical, at 8%. Meanwhile, part-time work along with postgrad study accounted for the smallest percentage, at only 5%.

The graduates earning $100,000 or more in the government sector had the highest proportion, at 50%, compared with 40% as the freelance consultants and 30% in the private companies. However, the graduates making $75,000-99,999 as freelance consultants accounted for the largest figure, at 40%, compared with 30% in the government sector and 25% in the private companies. Meanwhile, the proportion of graduates earning $25,000-49,999 was relatively low, ranging from 5% as the freelance consultants to 10% in the private companies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses both parts of the prompt. You have provided a clear overview of the pie chart and successfully selected and reported the main features of the table. The comparison between the different sectors and salary brackets is well-handled. You have identified key trends, such as the dominance of full-time work and the salary distribution across sectors. The data is accurately represented, and the inclusion of specific figures supports your points well. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently highlight the most significant contrasts rather than listing too many individual data points, which can sometimes clutter the analysis.

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 pie chart overview, the pie chart details, and the table analysis. You use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'however', 'while', and 'meanwhile' effectively to link sentences and clauses. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. The use of referencing is clear, and the structure allows the reader to follow the comparison of data without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'accounted for the largest proportion', 'pursuing full-time postgrad study', and 'salary distribution' are appropriate for an academic report. There is some flexibility in your word choice, and you avoid repetitive phrasing. While the vocabulary is accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific synonyms (e.g., 'remuneration' instead of 'salaries') would elevate the response further. The spelling is accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good control of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of subordinate clauses starting with 'while' or 'whereas'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or participle clauses, to add more variety to your sentence patterns.

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

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