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 line graph illustrates the number of jobs, in millions, across four sectors of the US economy namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, manufacturing was the dominant sector in 1960 and remained so until around 1980, after which it declined steadily. In contrast, retail and healthcare experienced substantial long-term growth, eventually overtaking manufacturing by 2020. Agriculture, meanwhile, remained the smallest sector throughout, showing little change after an initial decline.
Manufacturing began as the leading sector in 1960, employing around 15 million people, and rose further to a peak of approximately 20 million in 1980. From that point onwards, however, it declined consistently, falling to roughly 12 million by 2020. Agriculture followed a different pattern: starting at around 7 million jobs in 1960, it fell sharply over the following two decades before levelling off at approximately 3 million from 1980 through to 2020.
Retail employment grew steadily throughout the period, rising from around 5 million jobs in 1960 to nearly 18 million by 2020, overtaking manufacturing towards the end of the period. Healthcare showed the most dramatic transformation of all four sectors: starting from the lowest point in 1960 at just 2 million jobs, it rose continuously and overtook manufacturing shortly after 2000, ultimately becoming the largest sector by 2020 with around 19-20 million jobs
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key trends and made relevant comparisons between the four sectors. The overview clearly captures the main shifts, such as the decline of manufacturing and the rise of service-based sectors like healthcare and retail. You have selected data points effectively to support your descriptions, such as the peak of manufacturing in 1980 and the crossover points for healthcare. The information is accurate and fully addresses the requirements of the prompt, providing a clear and logical summary of the provided graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group information logically. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the dominant sector to the others. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'meanwhile', 'From that point onwards', and 'ultimately'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, making the information very easy to follow. There is a natural flow throughout the text, and referencing is precise.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the task. Phrases like 'dominant sector', 'substantial long-term growth', 'levelling off', and 'dramatic transformation' show a high level of precision. The vocabulary is used naturally and accurately to describe trends and changes over time. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey the information clearly and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'Manufacturing began as the leading sector in 1960, employing around 15 million people, and rose further to a peak of approximately 20 million in 1980.' Punctuation is used correctly to manage long sentences, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses is consistent, reflecting the historical nature of the data provided. The writing is error-free, which is characteristic of the highest band levels.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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