Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09
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—from 1960 to 2020.
Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at the beginning of the period and reached a peak in 1980 before declining steadily. By contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased substantially, with healthcare showing the fastest overall growth. Agriculture experienced a marked decline and had the fewest jobs by 2020.
In 1960, manufacturing employed approximately 15 million people, considerably more than retail and agriculture, at around 6 million each. Healthcare was the smallest sector, with only about 2 million jobs. Manufacturing employment then rose to 20 million in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020.
Retail employment, meanwhile, increased consistently throughout the period. It rose from roughly 6 million jobs in 1960 to 10 million in 1980 and 15 million in 2000, reaching about 16 million by 2020. Healthcare also grew strongly, from just 2 million jobs in 1960 to 5 million in 1980 and 11 million in 2000, before reaching approximately 16 million in 2020.
Agriculture followed the opposite trend. Its employment figure fell from around 6 million in 1960 to 3 million in 1980, remained stable until 2000, and then declined further to about 2 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| 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 logical overview of the data. You successfully highlighted the key features, such as the peak and subsequent decline of manufacturing, the steady growth of retail and healthcare, and the decline of agriculture. The data is accurately reported, and comparisons between sectors are made effectively throughout the text. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the information is well-selected to provide a concise yet comprehensive summary of the graph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is very well-structured. Each paragraph has a clear focus, and the progression of ideas is logical. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'By contrast', 'meanwhile', and 'followed the opposite trend', which help the reader navigate the information smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis of the sectors. The flow of information is natural and coherent throughout the entire report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report, such as 'substantially', 'marked decline', 'consistently', and 'employment figure'. The language is precise and fits the context of describing economic data well. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with a high degree of flexibility. The report reads naturally and demonstrates a strong command of topic-specific terminology.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The grammar is highly accurate, with a wide range of sentence structures used correctly. You have successfully employed complex sentences, such as 'Manufacturing employment then rose to 20 million in 1980, before falling to 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020.' Punctuation is used correctly to manage clauses and lists. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the response.
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