Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 four sectors, namely Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare of the US economy, over the period of sixty years from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, employment in manufacturing and agriculture declined over the period, whereas retail and, most strikingly, healthcare grew substantially. As a result, the sector that dominated in 1960 had been overtaken by the end.

In 1960, manufacturing was by far the largest employer, with around 15 million jobs, and it continued to rise to a peak of roughly 20 million by 1980. After that, however, it fell steadily, dropping to about 13 million by 2020. Agriculture, meanwhile, was already small at 6 million in 1960 and shrank further to just 2 million, remaining the smallest sector throughout.

The rising sectors told the opposite story. Retail climbed steadily from 6 million to around 16 million, while healthcare showed the most dramatic growth of all, soaring from just 2 million in 1960 to roughly 16 million by 2020. By the end of the period, retail and healthcare had become the joint-largest employers, each overtaking a much-reduced manufacturing sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview that highlights the main trends, specifically the decline in manufacturing and agriculture versus the growth in retail and healthcare. The selection of data is accurate, and you have made relevant comparisons, such as noting that the sector that dominated in 1960 was overtaken by 2020. The key features are well-supported with specific data points, and the information is presented in a logical, analytical manner that satisfies the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction and overview, the declining sectors, and the growing sectors. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'meanwhile', 'whereas', and 'as a result', which help the reader follow the argument without difficulty. The paragraphing is skilful, and the referencing is clear throughout. The flow of information is natural and contributes to a professional tone.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have demonstrated a wide and flexible range of vocabulary. The use of precise verbs and phrases such as 'soaring', 'shrank further', 'dominated', and 'joint-largest employers' shows 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 in the graph with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You have successfully used complex sentence forms, such as the contrastive structure in the second paragraph ('In 1960, manufacturing was... while it continued to rise... After that, however, it fell...'). Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your sentences. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent throughout the report. It is a very strong performance in terms of grammatical precision.

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