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)
The graph illustrates the information regarding the total number of jobs available in four sectors of the economy in the United States between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, the retail and healthcare sector experienced upward trends over the period, whereas the manufacturing and agriculture declined. In addition, retail became the largest employment sector by 2020, while agriculture remained the smallest throughout the period.
Regarding manufacturing, the number of jobs stood at 15 million in 1960 before rising to a peak of around 20 million in 1980. Thereafter, it declined steadily to about 17 million in 2000 and eventually fell to roughly 13 million by 2020. By contrast, employment in agriculture decreased consistently from around 5 million in 1960 to approximately 2 million at the end of the period.
Turning to retail and agriculture, both sectors recorded overall growth over the period. Retail employment increased steadily from 6 million roughly in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 before reaching to 15 million approximately by 2020. Likewise, healthcare recorded the most significant growth , rising from roughly 2 million jobs in 1960 to 15 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response effectively identifies the main trends and provides a clear overview of the data. You have successfully highlighted the key features, such as the growth in retail and healthcare and the decline in manufacturing and agriculture. The data is well-selected to support the summary, and comparisons are made throughout. However, there is a minor error in the final paragraph where you refer to 'retail and agriculture' when you clearly intended to discuss 'retail and healthcare'. This is a slight oversight in accuracy, but the overall task is addressed well with a clear position and logical reporting of the main features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in addition', 'thereafter', and 'by contrast' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the trends. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the declining sectors from the growing ones. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. The structure is sound and supports the overall clarity of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision, using terms like 'upward trends', 'declined steadily', and 'significant growth'. There is some awareness of style and collocation, which allows for a natural flow. While the vocabulary is generally accurate, the slip in the final paragraph ('retail and agriculture' instead of 'healthcare') slightly affects the precision of your reporting. Overall, the range is adequate for the task, and you successfully avoid repetitive phrasing by using a variety of verbs and adverbs to describe the trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over grammar and punctuation, with most sentences being error-free. There are a few minor issues, such as the awkward phrasing 'reaching to 15 million approximately' and the unnecessary space before the comma in the final paragraph. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The use of complex structures, such as 'while agriculture remained the smallest throughout the period', is handled well, indicating a good level of grammatical competence.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.