Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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 proportion of people employed in four sectors of the US economy—manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare—from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, manufacturing was the largest employment sector at the beginning of the period and remained one of the leading sectors throughout, despite reaching a peak before experiencing a gradual decline. By contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased considerably, with healthcare eventually becoming one of the two largest sectors. Agriculture followed the opposite trajectory, declining substantially and ending the period as by far the smallest sector.

In 1960, approximately 15% of the US workforce was employed in manufacturing. This figure subsequently rose to a peak of 20% in 1980, after which it underwent a steady decline, reaching around 16% by 2020. Retail, meanwhile, started at approximately 6%, the same level as agriculture, but followed a markedly different pattern. Its proportion increased consistently throughout the period, eventually reaching just over 15% in 2020.

Agriculture experienced a contrasting trend. After beginning at around 6% in 1960, the proportion of workers in this sector fell to below 5% by 1980. It then remained relatively stable until around 2000, before declining further to just 2% at the end of the period. Healthcare, on the other hand, started at the lowest level, at approximately 2% in 1960, but recorded sustained growth over the following six decades. By 2020, its share had risen dramatically to around 16%, making it one of the largest employment sectors alongside manufacturing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully and accurately addresses all parts of the task. The student successfully identifies and reports the main features of the graph, covering all four economic sectors (manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare) over the 1960-2020 period. The overview effectively captures the primary trends and shifts, noting how manufacturing remained prominent despite a decline, retail and healthcare grew significantly, and agriculture dropped sharply. The supporting details are precise, incorporating accurate data points such as the peak of manufacturing at 20% in 1980 and healthcare rising to around 16% by 2020. Key comparisons between the sectors are well-integrated throughout the body paragraphs, meeting all the requirements of an exceptional Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Cohesion and logical organisation are managed to a very high standard. The essay is structured logically, beginning with a clear introductory paragraph, followed by a well-crafted overall summary, and two detailed body paragraphs that thoughtfully group the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate contrasting trends. Cohesive devices are handled naturally and flexibly without being obtrusive or mechanical. Expressions such as 'By contrast', 'meanwhile', 'Agriculture experienced a contrasting trend', and 'Healthcare, on the other hand' establish clear relationships and progression between ideas throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and precise lexical resource appropriate for an academic report. Vocabulary choices are varied and sophisticated, including terms such as 'proportion', 'trajectory', 'substantially', 'sustained growth', and 'underwent a steady decline'. Word choice and collocations are used accurately, with only very rare minor slips. The student effectively avoids repetitive phrasing by using synonyms and varied descriptive verbs to report trends, reflecting a strong command of vocabulary suited to describing statistical data.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated syntactic constructions such as participial phrases ('After beginning at around 6% in 1960...') and well-controlled subordinate clauses. Control of punctuation and tense consistency (past simple for historical data) is excellent. Any minor slips are extremely rare and do not impede communication or affect the overall fluency of the response, fully justifying a high band score for grammar.

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