Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13

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 line graph illustrates how employment levels in four sectors of the US economy manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare fluctuated over a sixty-year period from 1960 to 2020.

In 1960, manufacturing was clearly the dominant sector, providing approximately 15 million jobs, well ahead of its nearest rival, retail, at around 6 million. Manufacturing employment continued to climb until 1980, when it peaked at roughly 20 million, but it then entered a sustained decline, falling to about 12 million jobs by the end of the period.

Retail and healthcare, by contrast, expanded considerably throughout the six decades. Retail employment rose steadily, overtaking manufacturing shortly after the turn of the millennium and reaching approximately 18 million jobs by 2020. Healthcare exhibited the most striking transformation of all, surging from a mere 2 million jobs in 1960 to nearly 19 million by 2020, thereby becoming almost as significant an employer as retail. Agriculture, meanwhile, remained the smallest sector throughout, shrinking gradually from 5 million to under 3 million jobs.

Overall, the data reveal a marked shift away from manufacturing and agricultural employment towards service-based sectors such as retail and healthcare.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the graph, including the initial dominance of manufacturing, the significant growth in healthcare and retail, and the decline of agriculture. The comparison between sectors is handled well, particularly the observation that retail overtook manufacturing. The overview is clear and effectively synthesizes the main trends, satisfying the requirements for a high band score. The data points cited are accurate and support the narrative well throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the manufacturing trend, the service sector growth, and the final summary. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1960', 'by contrast', 'meanwhile', and 'Overall' are used naturally to guide the reader through the data. The paragraphing is skillful, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next without any mechanical or repetitive phrasing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'sustained decline', 'exhibited the most striking transformation', and 'marked shift' are sophisticated and contextually appropriate. The use of 'dominant sector' and 'significant employer' shows a good command of collocation. There are no spelling errors, and the vocabulary is used with precision to describe the trends in the graph, which is characteristic of a high-level response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex structures used effectively. You successfully employ participial phrases ('thereby becoming almost as significant...') and complex sentence structures to link ideas. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. There is a high level of control over tense usage, consistently maintaining the past tense for historical data while providing clear comparisons.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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