Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-02

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 8.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of jobs in the Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare sectors in the United States between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the Healthcare and Retail sectors experienced substantial growth throughout the period, whereas employment in the Manufacturing and Agriculture sectors followed a downward trend.

In 1960, the Manufacturing sector employed the highest number of people, at 15 million, while Healthcare had the fewest jobs, with approximately 2.5 million. Both the Retail and Agriculture sectors recorded around 6 million jobs. By 1980, employment in Manufacturing had risen significantly to a peak of 20 million. In contrast, the Agriculture sector declined gradually to 4 million jobs.

By 2020, employment in both the Retail and Healthcare sectors had increased steadily, reaching approximately 16 million jobs each, making them the largest employers among the four sectors. Meanwhile, the Agriculture sector remained stable at around 4 million jobs from 1980 onwards, making it the smallest employer in 2020. In contrast, employment in Manufacturing declined gradually from its peak of 20 million in 1980 to just under 15 million by the end of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response effectively addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected key data points to support your summary. The comparison between the sectors is well-integrated, and you have accurately identified the significant shifts, such as the growth in Healthcare and Retail versus the decline in Manufacturing and Agriculture. The information is logically presented, and the key features are highlighted without unnecessary detail. This demonstrates a strong ability to synthesize information from a visual source.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction and overview to specific data comparisons. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'throughout the period' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. There is a clear sense of structure, and the relationship between the different sectors is consistently maintained throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends accurately, such as 'substantial growth', 'downward trend', 'declined gradually', and 'remained stable'. The terminology is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be further elevated by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common synonyms to reach the highest band. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a good variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences that combine information effectively (e.g., 'In 1960, the Manufacturing sector employed the highest number of people, at 15 million, while Healthcare had the fewest jobs...'). The grammar is highly accurate, with very few, if any, errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage clauses, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which demonstrates a high level of grammatical control.

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