Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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 8.5)

The line graph illustrates how employment levels (in millions) evolved across four US economic sectors — Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare — between 1960 and 2020.

Overall, the data reveals a structural economic shift: Manufacturing declined after peaking in 1980, while Healthcare and Retail grew steadily, with Agriculture remaining minimal and stable post-1980.

In 1960, Manufacturing employed 15 million workers — the highest of all sectors — rising to 20 million by 1980 before falling sharply to 13 million by 2020. Conversely, Healthcare started at only 2 million but surged dramatically after 1980, reaching 16 million — an eightfold increase — effectively matching Retail, which climbed consistently from 6 million to 16 million over the period. Agriculture, meanwhile, dropped from 6 million to 3 million by 1980 and then plateaued, showing no significant change thereafter.

This trend underscores a pronounced transition from industrial to service-oriented employment, accentuating the burgeoning dominance of Healthcare and Retail, in contrast with the contraction of traditional sectors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the structural economic shift in the US. The selection of data points is accurate, and you have effectively made comparisons between the sectors, such as noting the 'eightfold increase' in Healthcare and the contrast between the growth of service sectors and the decline of Manufacturing. The information is well-supported by the figures provided in the prompt, and the summary is concise yet comprehensive, meeting all requirements for a high-band response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction sets the context, the overview highlights the main trends, and the body paragraph provides specific data analysis. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Conversely', 'meanwhile', and 'in contrast with', to link ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow, demonstrating a high level of control over the structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You have demonstrated a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary. The use of terms such as 'structural economic shift', 'surged dramatically', 'plateaued', and 'burgeoning dominance' shows a high level of lexical precision and awareness of academic style. The vocabulary is used naturally and accurately throughout the text, contributing to the clarity and impact of your analysis. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the range of vocabulary is more than sufficient to convey complex information with ease.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have successfully employed complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('accentuating the burgeoning dominance...') and varied clause structures, without making any errors. Punctuation is used correctly to enhance readability and clarify relationships between ideas. The control over grammar is consistent throughout the response, and there are no errors that impede communication or detract from the professional tone of the report.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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