Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-30

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 8.0)

This graph illustrates the number of jobs in the four sectors in the United States between 1960 and 2020. In general, it's evident that employment opportunities in the retail and healthcare industries have increased over the years. Manufacturing and agriculture sectors, however, had an overall decline after some fluctuations.

In 1960, the healthcare industry had 3 million jobs, which further grew to 5 million in 1980, surpassing the agriculture sector, before climbing to 16 million total jobs in 2020.

Similarly, the retail sector offered nearly 6 million jobs in 1960. The figure increased steadily over the next 40 years, reaching 15 million in total before peaking at 16 million in 2020. By contrast, the agriculture sector was also offering 6 million jobs in 1960, but the figure declined to approximately 4 million in 1980 and remained stable for the next two decades before reaching 3 million in 2020.

The manufacturing sector had the highest number of jobs to offer between 1960 and 1980. However, the figure started decreasing gradually and reached 17 million. Even with the decline in numbers, the manufacturing sector remained the most beneficial among the four sectors for the economy of the US in 2000, but after that period, it dropped slowly to nearly 13 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively covers all parts of the task. You have identified the main trends and provided relevant data points to support your descriptions. The overview in the first paragraph clearly highlights the contrasting trajectories of the four sectors. You have made relevant comparisons, such as noting when the healthcare sector surpassed agriculture. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are precise; for instance, you mention the manufacturing sector reached 17 million, but the graph suggests a different peak or starting point. Overall, the information is well-selected and logically presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on specific sectors, which helps the reader follow the information easily. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'In general', 'Similarly', 'By contrast', and 'However' to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a logical flow. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure supports the information well, making the text easy to navigate.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'employment opportunities', 'surpassing', 'peaking at', and 'remained stable' are used accurately. There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary, though it is mostly functional. To improve, you could incorporate more varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (e.g., 'soared', 'plummeted', 'fluctuated') to show greater flexibility. The word choice is generally precise, and there are no spelling errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar and punctuation is good. For example, the use of subordinate clauses in 'the healthcare industry had 3 million jobs, which further grew to 5 million' is handled well. There are very few grammatical slips, and the meaning is always clear. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or participle clauses, to add more sophistication to your writing.

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