Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27

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)

Here is a Band 9 model answer based on the line graph provided on your page:

The line graph illustrates changes in the number of jobs across four economic sectors—Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare, and Agriculture—in the US between 1960 and 2020, measured in millions.

Overall, Healthcare and Retail experienced continuous growth over the 60-year period, with Healthcare rising to become the largest employer by 2020. Conversely, Manufacturing saw an initial rise followed by a steady decline, while Agriculture consistently contained the fewest jobs and trended downward.

In 1960, Manufacturing was the leading employer, providing 15 million jobs. This number peaked at 20 million in 1980 before steadily declining to 13 million by 2020. Agriculture started with 6 million jobs in 1960 but gradually dropped, stabilizing at 3 million between 1980 and 2000, before falling further to 2 million in 2020.

In contrast, the Healthcare and Retail sectors expanded significantly. Healthcare started as the smallest sector in 1960 with just 2 million jobs, but it grew steadily, surpassing Agriculture by 1980 and matching Manufacturing at 13 million by 2015, before reaching a high of 16 million in 2020. Retail followed a similar upward trajectory, growing from 6 million jobs in 1960 to 10 million in 1980, eventually overtaking Manufacturing around 2010

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by identifying the key trends and making relevant comparisons between the four sectors. The overview clearly highlights the divergent paths of the sectors, such as the continuous growth in Healthcare and Retail versus the decline in Manufacturing and Agriculture. You have effectively selected and reported the main features, including the peak of Manufacturing in 1980 and the crossover points where sectors like Healthcare surpassed others. The data is accurately represented, and the response provides a comprehensive summary of the provided information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction and overview to specific details about the declining sectors and then the growing sectors. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively, such as 'Conversely', 'In contrast', and 'eventually overtaking', which help guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used skillfully to separate the different trends, ensuring the information is easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary, which is used with natural control. Phrases such as 'continuous growth', 'upward trajectory', 'steadily declining', and 'leading employer' are precise and appropriate for an academic report. The vocabulary is varied and contributes to the clarity of the analysis. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is consistently academic in tone, fitting the requirements for a high-band response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentence forms, such as 'Healthcare started as the smallest sector in 1960 with just 2 million jobs, but it grew steadily, surpassing Agriculture by 1980 and matching Manufacturing at 13 million by 2015'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over tense and sentence structure is excellent, allowing for a smooth and professional presentation of the data.

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