Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-15

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 graph illustrates the number of jobs in four sectors of the US economy—agriculture, manufacturing, sales and services—from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, employment in services and sales increased significantly, while the number of jobs in agriculture and manufacturing generally declined. Services experienced the most dramatic growth and became the largest source of employment by the end of the period.

In 1960, agriculture employed the largest number of people, at approximately 7 million, followed by manufacturing at around 6 million. Sales and services accounted for roughly 4 million and 3 million jobs respectively. Over the following decades, agricultural employment fell steadily, reaching only about 2 million jobs in 2020.

Manufacturing followed a similar downward trend, although its decline was less consistent. Employment increased slightly during the early part of the period before falling gradually, ending at approximately 4 million jobs in 2020.

In contrast, sales employment rose steadily, from around 4 million jobs in 1960 to approximately 7 million in 2020. The most striking change was in the services sector, which grew rapidly from about 3 million jobs to nearly 14 million over the 60-year period. Consequently, services became by far the largest employment sector in the US by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all four sectors and provided a clear overview of the trends. The main features are highlighted effectively, such as the dramatic growth in services and the decline in agriculture. You have made relevant comparisons throughout, such as noting that services became the largest sector by 2020. The data is accurately reported, and the structure allows for a logical progression of information. You have fully addressed all parts of the task, providing a comprehensive summary of the provided graph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors by their trends (declining vs. growing). This makes the information very easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'consequently', and 'over the following decades' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends. The progression of ideas is smooth, and there is a clear sense of logical flow from the initial state in 1960 to the final state in 2020.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'dramatic growth', 'downward trend', and 'striking change' demonstrate a good command of language. The vocabulary is precise and fits the context of describing economic data well. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. While the range is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms for 'increased' or 'fell' could elevate the response further, but the current level is already very strong.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammatical control is very high. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with a high degree of accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to manage lists and clauses. There are no significant grammatical errors, and the writing is clear and professional. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few complex structures used are handled with confidence. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text.

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.