Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 millions) evolved across four US economic sectors — Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare — between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the data reveals a structural economic shift: Manufacturing declined after peaking in 1980, while Healthcare and Retail grew steadily, with Agriculture remaining minimal and stable post-1980.

In 1960, Manufacturing employed 15 million workers — the highest of all sectors — rising to 20 million by 1980 before falling sharply to 13 million by 2020. Conversely, Healthcare started at only 2 million but surged dramatically after 1980, reaching 16 million — an eightfold increase — effectively matching Retail, which climbed consistently from 6 million to 16 million over the period. Agriculture, meanwhile, dropped from 6 million to 3 million by 1980 and then plateaued, showing no significant change thereafter.

This trend underscores a pronounced transition from industrial to service-oriented employment, accentuating the burgeoning dominance of Healthcare and Retail, in contract to the contraction of traditional sectors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses the task requirements. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the peak and subsequent decline of Manufacturing, the steady growth of Healthcare and Retail, and the stability of Agriculture. The data is accurately reported, and the comparisons are relevant and well-integrated. The inclusion of an overview that highlights the structural economic shift is a key strength, as it provides a clear summary of the trends. All parts of the prompt are covered well, and the information is logically selected to support the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction sets the context, the overview provides the 'big picture', and the body paragraphs detail the specific trends. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Conversely', 'meanwhile', and 'this trend underscores', which help the reader follow the argument without difficulty. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the flow between sentences is smooth and natural. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'structural economic shift', 'surged dramatically', 'burgeoning dominance', and 'accentuating' show a high level of lexical control. The vocabulary is not only accurate but also appropriate for an academic report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey the trends clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied punctuation. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout. For example, the use of participial phrases like 'effectively matching Retail' and 'accentuating the burgeoning dominance' adds sophistication to your writing. There are no significant grammatical errors, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity and readability.

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

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