Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-06

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 destinations of Anthropology graduates after completing their degree, while the table compares the salaries of those working after five years.

Overall, full-time employment was the most common destination, whereas only a small proportion were unemployed or had an unknown destination. After five years, government employees were the most likely to earn $100,000 or more.

According to the pie chart, 52% of graduates entered full-time work. A further 15% worked part-time, while 12% continued their education through full-time postgraduate study. Part-time work and postgraduate study accounted for 5%. Meanwhile, 8% were unemployed and another 8% had an unknown destination.

The table shows that 40% of freelance consultants and 50% of government employees earned at least $100,000, compared with 30% of those in private companies. In the $75,000–99,999 range, freelancers had the highest figure, at 40%. Private-company employees recorded the largest proportion in the $50,000–74,999 bracket, at 35%, while the lowest salary range accounted for 5%, 5%, and 10% respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all parts of the prompt. You provided a clear overview of the main trends in both the pie chart and the table, and you selected relevant data points to support your summary. The comparison between the different employment sectors in the table is well-handled. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned 'Part-time work and postgraduate study accounted for 5%', but the chart shows these as separate categories (15% and 12% respectively). Double-checking the data against the visual aids is crucial for accuracy.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the two distinct data sets (the pie chart and the table). Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'A further', and 'compared with' are used appropriately to link information. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the comparison between the different graduate destinations and salary brackets. The structure is professional and meets the requirements for a well-organized report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'destinations of Anthropology graduates', 'full-time postgraduate study', and 'salary range' are used correctly. You also use a variety of reporting verbs and comparative structures. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the task, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific terms (e.g., 'remuneration' instead of 'salaries') would help elevate the response to a higher band level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, and your use of punctuation is correct, which aids readability. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To improve further, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater control over your writing. Overall, the control of grammar is consistent and reliable.

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

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