Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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 changes in employment numbers across four economic sectors in the United States—Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare—from 1960 to 2020.

Overall

Healthcare and Retail experienced overall growth over the 60-year period, with Healthcare eventually becoming the sector with the highest number of jobs. Conversely, Manufacturing saw a significant rise followed by a sharp decline, while Agriculture consistently had the lowest employment figures throughout the timeframe.

Detailed Trends

Healthcare & Retail:

In 1960, Healthcare started with the lowest number of jobs among the four sectors at approximately 2 million. However, it underwent steady and substantial growth, surpassing Agriculture by 1980 and Manufacturing around 2010, ultimately reaching a peak of around 16 million jobs in 2020.

Retail began at around 6 million jobs in 1960. It experienced a consistent upward trajectory, reaching about 16 million by 2020, sharing the top position with Healthcare at the end of the period.

Manufacturing & Agriculture:

Manufacturing was the dominant employer in 1960, starting at 15 million jobs. It climbed to a peak of 20 million in 1980 before steadily declining to around 13 million by 2020.

Agriculture started at roughly 6 million jobs in 1960. It dropped sharply to around 3 million in 1980 and continued a gradual decline, finishing at approximately 2 million jobs in 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends, such as the growth in Healthcare and Retail and the decline in Agriculture. The key features are well-selected, and the comparisons between sectors are accurate and relevant. You have successfully identified the starting and ending points as well as the significant shifts in the data, such as Healthcare surpassing other sectors. The information is presented logically, and the data points cited are consistent with the provided graph. The response is well-structured and covers all four sectors comprehensively, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and well-defined body paragraphs. The use of headings is acceptable, though in a formal IELTS report, standard paragraphing is generally preferred over subheadings. Cohesive devices such as 'Conversely', 'However', and 'ultimately' are used effectively to guide the reader through the trends. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving logically from the overview to specific sector comparisons. Each paragraph has a clear focus, and the referencing between the data and the trends is precise, ensuring that the information is easy to follow throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have demonstrated a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'steady and substantial growth', 'consistent upward trajectory', and 'dominant employer' show a strong command of language. The vocabulary is precise and used accurately to describe trends and changes in the data. While the range is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms for 'growth' or 'decline' could further enhance the lexical variety. Overall, the language is natural and contributes to a professional tone, with no errors in word choice or collocation that would impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, effectively. The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The use of past tense to describe historical data is consistent and correct. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the flow is smooth. The control over complex structures, such as 'Healthcare started with the lowest number of jobs... However, it underwent steady and substantial growth', demonstrates a high level of proficiency. The writing is clear, precise, and professional throughout the entire response.

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