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 in four sectors of the US economy, namely manufacturing, retail, agriculture and healthcare, between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, manufacturing had the highest number of jobs at the beginning of the period, but its figure declined after reaching a peak in 1980. In contrast, employment in retail and healthcare increased considerably over the period. Agriculture experienced a gradual decline and had the fewest jobs by 2020.
In 1960, manufacturing accounted for approximately 15 million jobs, which was considerably higher than the figures for retail and agriculture, at around 6 million each. Healthcare had the lowest figure, with only about 2 million jobs. By 1980, manufacturing had risen to a peak of 20 million, while retail increased to 10 million. Meanwhile, healthcare climbed to approximately 5 million, whereas agriculture fell to around 3 million.
From 1980 onwards, the number of manufacturing jobs declined, reaching about 17 million in 2000 and 13 million in 2020. Retail, on the other hand, continued to grow, reaching 15 million in 2000 and approximately 16 million in 2020. Healthcare also experienced significant growth, rising from 5 million in 1980 to 11 million in 2000 and 16 million in 2020. Agriculture remained relatively stable at around 3 million in 2000 before falling to approximately 1.5 million in 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully satisfies the requirements of Academic Writing Task 1 by providing a clear and well-developed overview of the main trends and notable comparisons across all four economic sectors between 1960 and 2020. The candidate accurately identifies the dominant initial position of manufacturing, its peak in 1980, and its subsequent decline, while contrasting this with the significant upward trajectories in retail and healthcare, and the steady decline in agriculture. Data points are appropriately selected and accurately cited from the visual input, such as manufacturing starting at approximately 15 million and reaching a peak of 20 million, ensuring all parts of the prompt are thoroughly covered without unnecessary or irrelevant details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The text is logically organised, featuring a clear introduction, an effective overview paragraph, and well-structured body paragraphs that handle different time frames smoothly. Cohesive devices are used naturally and appropriately to guide the reader through the data comparisons, such as 'In contrast,' 'Meanwhile,' and 'From 1980 onwards.' Paragraphing is skilfully managed, with each paragraph serving a distinct and logical function in presenting the data progression. There is a clear overall progression from start to finish.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The candidate demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic task, incorporating precise vocabulary such as 'accounted for,' 'considerably higher,' 'gradual decline,' and 'stable.' Word choices and collocations are used accurately and naturally, with phrases like 'upward trajectories' or precise numerical reporting reflecting strong command of the language. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, enabling the response to read very fluently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
A wide variety of complex sentence structures is used flexibly and accurately throughout the response, such as 'which was considerably higher than the figures for retail' and clauses involving participial phrases like 'reaching a peak in 1980.' The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and control over punctuation and tense consistency is excellent. The grammar never impedes communication and demonstrates complete control over syntactic forms.
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