Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-08
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 changes in the number of jobs across four different economic sectors in the United States over a 60-year period from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, employment in the retail and healthcare sectors experienced significant growth, with both fields becoming the leading employers by the end of the period. Conversely, the number of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture declined overall, despite an initial rise in manufacturing employment.
In 1960, manufacturing was by far the largest employer, accounting for 15 million jobs. This figure grew steadily to peak at 20 million in 1980, before experiencing a gradual downward trend over the next four decades, ultimately falling to approximately 13 million by 2020. In contrast, the retail sector started at around 6 million jobs in 1960 and climbed consistently throughout the period, reaching 10 million in 1980 and plateauing near 16 million by 2020.
The healthcare sector witnessed the most rapid growth, starting as the smallest field with only 2 million jobs in 1960. It expanded steadily to 5 million in 1980, before accelerating sharply to reach around 16 million in 2020, matching retail as the top job provider. Agriculture, on the other hand, followed a downward trajectory. It began at roughly 6 million jobs in 1960, halved to 3 million by 1980, and remained relatively stagnant before dropping slightly to around 2 million at the end of the period.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response is excellent. You have clearly identified the main trends and provided a logical overview that contrasts the growth sectors (retail and healthcare) with the declining ones (manufacturing and agriculture). You have selected key data points to support your descriptions, such as the peak of manufacturing in 1980 and the rapid growth of healthcare. The comparison between the sectors is well-integrated throughout the report. You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt, and the information is accurate based on the provided graph. No key features were missed, and the summary is well-balanced.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the information effectively. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. You have used a variety of cohesive devices, such as 'Conversely', 'In contrast', and 'on the other hand', which help to signal the relationships between the different economic sectors. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive phrasing.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You have demonstrated a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'downward trajectory', 'plateauing', 'accelerating sharply', and 'leading employers' show a sophisticated control of language. The word choices are accurate and contribute to the clarity of the report. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used naturally throughout the text. You have successfully avoided repetition by using varied synonyms for growth and decline.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response displays a wide range of complex sentence structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have effectively used participial phrases ('accounting for 15 million jobs') and subordinate clauses to provide detail without sacrificing readability. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The grammar is error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent with the requirements of describing historical data. The writing is highly professional and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.