Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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 employment levels (in millions) across four key economic sectors in the United States - Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare - from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing and agriculture experienced a long-term decline in jobs, while healthcare showed consistent growth. Retail employment rose steadily until around 2000 before plateauing and slightly declining thereafter.

In 1960, manufacturing was the largest employer among the four sectors, with approximately 15 million jobs. It peaked at around 20 million in 1980, after which it declined steadily to roughly 13 million by 2020. In contrast, agriculture started with about 6 million jobs in 1960 and fell sharply to just under 2 million by 2020 - a reduction of over two-thirds.

Healthcare began with the fewest jobs (around 2 million) in 1960 but demonstrated uninterrupted growth, rising to approximately 16 million by 2020 - surpassing manufacturing as the largest sector by the end of the period. Retail employment grew from about 6 million in 1960 to 15 million in 2020, though its trajectory was not linear: it increased steadily until 2000 (reaching ~15 million), then levelled off and dipped slightly to 15.5 million by 2020 - still higher than in 1960 but marginally below its 2000 peak.

Notably, healthcare overtook retail around 2010 and surpassed manufacturing by 2020, reflecting a structural shift toward service- and care-based employment in the US economy over the six decades.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key trends and provided a clear overview of the data. The selection of data points to support your descriptions is accurate, and you have made effective comparisons between the sectors, such as noting that healthcare surpassed manufacturing by the end of the period. The inclusion of specific figures adds precision to your analysis. You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt, and the information is well-developed and logically presented throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

Your writing is very well-organized. The information is logically sequenced, moving from a clear introduction to an overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs that group the sectors effectively. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'while', and 'though its trajectory was not linear' to link ideas smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, and the progression of ideas is clear throughout the entire response. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'uninterrupted growth', 'structural shift', and 'trajectory was not linear' show a high level of lexical control. You use precise terminology relevant to the task, and your word choice is consistently accurate. There are no spelling errors, and the vocabulary is used naturally to convey complex information about economic trends. The range is sufficient to allow for precise and flexible descriptions of the data provided in the graph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your control of grammar is excellent. You use a wide range of complex sentence structures, including participial phrases and subordinate clauses, with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips that might occur are rare and do not impede communication in any way. Your ability to handle different tenses and comparative structures demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence suitable for an academic task.

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