Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01

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 given line graph compares employment figures in four sectors—manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare—of the US economy from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, employment in the retail and healthcare sectors increased significantly over the period, whereas the number of jobs in manufacturing and agriculture declined. Healthcare experienced the most substantial growth, while agriculture saw the sharpest overall decrease.

Healthcare had the lowest number of employees in 1960, at around 2.4 million jobs. This figure increased substantially over the following decades, eventually reaching just over 15 million in 2020, which was approximately the same as the figure for the retail sector.

In 1960, agriculture and retail had an equal number of jobs, at just over 1 million. However, employment in the retail sector rose significantly, reaching approximately 15 million in 2000, before increasing slightly further by 2020. In contrast, the agricultural sector experienced a downward trend. Employment fell to nearly 2.5 million in 1980 and then remained stable until 2000, before declining to its lowest point in 2020.

Meanwhile, manufacturing employment rose dramatically from approximately 15 million positions in 1960 to 20 million in 1980. After reaching this peak, however, the number of jobs declined considerably to just over 10 million by 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the trends and successfully selected key features to highlight, such as the growth in healthcare and the decline in agriculture. The comparisons between sectors are relevant and accurate. For instance, noting that healthcare and retail reached similar levels by 2020 demonstrates a good grasp of the data. The information is well-supported by specific figures from the graph, and the report is balanced, covering all four sectors adequately. No significant information is omitted, and the main trends are clearly identified and described.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', and 'meanwhile' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used skillfully to separate the trends, making the information easy to follow. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving logically from the general overview to specific sector details. There is a consistent flow throughout the text, and referencing is clear, ensuring that the reader can easily track the data points mentioned.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'substantial growth', 'sharpest overall decrease', and 'downward trend' to describe the data accurately. The word choice is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is effective, it could be further enhanced by incorporating a slightly wider variety of synonyms to avoid repetition of words like 'increased' or 'declined'. However, the current range is sufficient to convey the information clearly and professionally, and there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'Healthcare had the lowest number of employees in 1960, at around 2.4 million jobs' and 'After reaching this peak, however, the number of jobs declined considerably'. Punctuation is used correctly to manage these complex structures. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a strong command of English grammar suitable for this task.

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