Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-27
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 shows the destinations of Anthropology graduates from one university, while the table illustrates their salaries after five years of employment.
Overall, full-time work was by far the most common destination, whereas only a minority combined part-time employment with postgraduate study. After five years, government employees and freelance consultants were more likely to earn at least $75,000 than those working for private companies.
In detail, 52% of graduates entered full-time employment, compared with 15% who worked part-time. A further 8% pursued full-time postgraduate study, while 5% combined part-time work with study. Meanwhile, 12% were unemployed and the remaining 8% was unknown.
The salary figures show that 40% of freelance consultants earned between $75,000 and $99,999, and an identical proportion received $100,000 or more. Government employees had the highest proportion in the top bracket, at 50%. By contrast, only 30% of private-company employees earned $100,000+, while 35% earned $50,000–$74,999.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by covering both the pie chart and the table. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, highlighting the dominant destination (full-time work) and making a clear general comparison regarding salaries. Key features are accurately reported and supported with precise data from the visual prompts, such as 52% for full-time work and the salary distributions for freelance consultants and government employees. The information is relevant, well-selected, and accurately reflects the provided data without any notable omissions or inventions, satisfying the requirements for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory statement, followed by a concise overview paragraph, body paragraph details for the chart, and finally body paragraph details for the table. Cohesive devices such as 'meanwhile', 'by contrast', and 'compared with' are used effectively to connect ideas and make comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different visual elements and logical blocks of information, ensuring smooth transitions throughout the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic task, employing appropriate terms such as 'destinations', 'illustrates', 'proportion', and 'bracket'. Less common phrasing like 'by far the most common destination' and 'an identical proportion' are used successfully. There are only very minor issues, such as the slight awkwardness in 'the remaining 8% was unknown' (where 'percentage' or 'proportion' might be better than '8% was unknown'), but these do not impede communication and reflect a competent command of lexical resources.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The writer uses a good variety of complex sentence structures, including comparative clauses ('compared with 15% who worked part-time') and subordinate clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout. Minor slips are virtually absent, though slight improvements in phrasing could enhance stylistic precision. Complex structures are handled with good control, allowing for clear and precise reporting of statistical data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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