Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-14
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 provided pie chart and table illustrate the career destinations of Anthropology graduates from a single university after completing their degree, alongside their earnings after five years across three sectors.
Overall, a major proportion of graduates enter full-time employment, whereas only a small fraction opt for postgraduate study alone. In terms of earnings, graduates working in the government sector and as freelance consultants generally earn higher salaries compared to those employed in private companies after five years.
Looking at the pie chart, over half of the graduates (52%) secured full-time work, making it the most popular path. Part-time employment accounted for 15%, while 5% combined part-time work with postgraduate study. Full-time postgraduate study was chosen by 8% of students, matching the proportion of those whose destinations were unknown. Meanwhile, 12% were unemployed.
Regarding salary distribution after five years, 80% of government sector workers earned $75,000 or more, with half receiving over $100,000 and 30% earning between $75,000 and $99,999. Similarly, 80% of freelance consultants earned at least $75,000, equally divided between the $75,000–$99,999 and $100,000+ brackets (40% each). Conversely, private company employees reported lower income levels overall: only 30% reached the highest salary threshold ($100,000+), while the largest portion (35%) earned between $50,000 and $74,999, and 10% earned below $50,000.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by providing a clear overview and reporting the main features from both the pie chart and the table. Key details, such as the percentages of career destinations and the salary brackets across the three sectors, are accurately selected and compared. For instance, the response correctly contrasts the higher earnings in the government sector and freelance consulting with private company salaries. The data is well-reported without including personal opinions, meeting all requirements for a Band 8 performance in this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. The information is divided appropriately into paragraphs: an introduction, an overall summary, a detailed paragraph on the pie chart, and a detailed paragraph on the salary table. Cohesive devices are used effectively and without being overly mechanical, such as 'Overall', 'Meanwhile', and 'Conversely'. Referencing is clear throughout, making the text easy to follow from the general introduction down to specific data points. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, supporting a Band 8 descriptor.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items and phrases are used effectively, such as 'career destinations', 'major proportion', 'freelance consultants', and 'salary distribution'. Word choices and collocations are generally precise, as seen in expressions like 'secured full-time work' and 'highest salary threshold'. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but vocabulary usage remains fluent, natural, and appropriate for a Band 7.5 or Band 8 level, comfortably earning a Band 8.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writer uses a wide variety of complex sentence structures with good control. Examples include participial phrases ('making it the most popular path') and comparative clauses ('compared to those employed in private companies'). The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, and punctuation is handled well throughout the text. While minor slips could arguably exist in extended descriptive writing, the grammatical accuracy here is strong, demonstrating flexibility and secure control over complex forms, which aligns well with the Band 8 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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