Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19

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 number of jobs across four major sectors of the economy in the US over a 60-year period starting from 1960. Overall, the manufacturing industry was the dominant employer for the majority of the timeframe, while the agricultural sector consistently maintained the smallest workforce. Over the period, healthcare and retail experienced a steady upward trend, whereas manufacturing and agriculture showed an overall downward trend. In 1960, manufacturing jobs stood at approximately 15 million. This figure rose to a peak of 20 million in 1980 before steadily dropping to 13 million by the end of 2020. Conversely, the healthcare field expanded dramatically, with employment positions climbing from 2.5 million to 16 million over the 60 years.Between 1960 and 2000, the retail sector generated more jobs, showing a consistent increase of 5 million every two decades, which then plateaued from 2000 to 2020. Meanwhile, agriculture employed around 3 million people in 1980, which was half of its 1960 total, and experienced negligible changes from that point onward.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by presenting a clear overview and reporting the main features of the four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The response accurately notes that manufacturing was initially dominant and agriculture the smallest, while highlighting the distinct upward trends in healthcare and retail alongside the declines in manufacturing and agriculture. Key data points, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 and healthcare climbing to 16 million, are well integrated to support the comparisons. The selection of features is highly relevant and grounded in the visual data, fulfilling all requirements of Task 1 effectively and achieving a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory statement and an effective overview paragraph, followed by well-sequenced body details. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to link ideas, such as 'Overall', 'Conversely', and 'Meanwhile', which help to guide the reader smoothly through the comparative trends. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate the introduction and overview from the detailed body analysis. Referencing is clear throughout, contributing to a seamless and coherent reading experience without any obtrusive or mechanical elements.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic report. Less common lexical items and collocations are used effectively, such as 'dominant employer', 'steadily dropping', 'expanded dramatically', and 'plateaued'. Word choices are generally precise and appropriate for describing statistical trends and economic sectors. There are only occasional minor limitations, but the vocabulary allows for clear and fluent communication throughout the response, showing a solid command of lexical features appropriate for a Band 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures alongside simpler forms. The student demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation, successfully handling complex clauses such as 'While the manufacturing industry was the dominant employer...' and 'employment positions climbing from 2.5 million to 16 million'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and minor errors are very occasional and non-systematic, meaning they never impede communication or obscure the meaning of the data. Control over tense and subject-verb agreement is maintained throughout the text.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.