Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05
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 changes in the number of jobs in four sectors of the US economy—manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare—between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, manufacturing and agriculture experienced an overall decline, whereas the number of jobs in retail and healthcare increased substantially. Manufacturing was the largest employer at the beginning of the period, while by 2020, retail and healthcare had become the two leading sectors.
In 1960, manufacturing accounted for approximately 15 million jobs, compared with around 6 million in retail and agriculture. Healthcare had the fewest jobs, at roughly 2 million. Manufacturing then rose sharply to a peak of 20 million in 1980 before falling steadily to about 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Agriculture, by contrast, declined from approximately 6 million jobs in 1960 to 3 million in 1980, remained unchanged in 2000, and then fell slightly to around 2 million by 2020.
Retail followed a consistently upward trajectory, increasing from about 6 million jobs in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, before reaching approximately 16 million in 2020. Healthcare showed the most dramatic growth, rising from only 2 million jobs in 1960 to 5 million in 1980, 11 million in 2000 and around 16 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response is excellent. You have clearly identified the main trends and provided a concise overview of the data. You successfully selected key features, such as the peak of manufacturing in 1980 and the dramatic growth of the healthcare sector, and made relevant comparisons between the four sectors throughout the period. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the information is accurately reported with no significant omissions. The data is well-integrated into the narrative, providing a clear summary of the economic shifts in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the sectors effectively (declining vs. growing). The progression of ideas is smooth, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'by contrast', and 'before reaching' to link information naturally. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different trends, making the report easy to follow. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is consistent throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'consistently upward trajectory', 'dramatic growth', and 'accounted for' show a high level of control. The vocabulary is appropriate for an academic report, and there are no errors in word choice or collocation. You successfully avoid repetition by using varied terminology to describe the trends, which contributes to the overall clarity and sophistication of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'Manufacturing was the largest employer at the beginning of the period, while by 2020, retail and healthcare had become the two leading sectors.' Punctuation is used correctly to manage clauses and lists. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent with the requirements of describing historical data. There are no noticeable grammatical slips.
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