Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-01

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 given line graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US throughout the period from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is evident that the number of jobs in the manufacturing sector experienced an increase before it declined gradually. Additionally, the number of jobs in the retail and healthcare sectors rose steadily, whereas the number of jobs in the agriculture sector decreased over the period.

At the beginning of the period, employment in the retail sector stood at approximately 6 million. It then rose significantly to about 16 million in 2020. An opposite trend can be observed in the agriculture sector. It started at roughly 6 million in 1960, which then fell steadily to around 2 million in 2020.

Turning to the other categories, the number of jobs in the healthcare sector showed a different pattern. It stood at around 2 million in 1960, which then increased moderately to about 16 million in 2020. Meanwhile, the number of jobs in the manufacturing sector stood at nearly 15 million in 1960, which increased slightly to 20 million before it declined considerably to about 13 million in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses the task by identifying the main trends and providing relevant data points for all four sectors. You have successfully highlighted the key features, such as the growth in retail and healthcare, the decline in agriculture, and the fluctuating pattern in manufacturing. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the overall trends. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons between sectors are more explicit; for instance, noting that healthcare and retail ended at the same point in 2020 would add analytical depth.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'whereas', 'At the beginning of the period', and 'Turning to' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the data. The progression of ideas is smooth, and each paragraph has a clear focus. The use of referencing is accurate, and the structure supports the overall message well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'increased moderately', 'declined considerably', and 'rose significantly'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'number of jobs' (e.g., 'employment figures', 'workforce levels', 'job opportunities') to demonstrate a more flexible range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'It stood at around 2 million in 1960, which then increased moderately to about 16 million in 2020.' The punctuation is generally accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a strong indicator of good grammatical control. Continued practice with more varied complex sentence structures will further enhance your writing.

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