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 task. 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 descriptions. 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 example, you mentioned 'Part-time work and postgraduate study accounted for 5%', but the chart shows these as separate categories (15% and 12% respectively). Double-check your data transcription to ensure complete accuracy in reporting.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the distinct data sets. You use cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'while', and 'compared with' effectively to link ideas. The progression of information is smooth, and each paragraph has a clear central topic. The use of paragraphing is appropriate for this task type. To improve, ensure that the transition between the two distinct data sets (the chart and the table) is even more seamless to enhance the overall flow.

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 'freelance consultants' are used accurately. You also use a variety of reporting verbs and comparative structures. There is a good attempt at using less common vocabulary, such as 'bracket' and 'proportion'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or synonyms to avoid repeating words like 'work' or 'employees' too frequently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'while 12% continued their education...' and 'compared with 30% of those in private companies'. The grammar is generally accurate, and punctuation is used correctly throughout the text. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions or more varied participle clauses, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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

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