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 people employed across four economic sectors in the United States — Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, and Healthcare — over a sixty-year period from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, Manufacturing dominated employment throughout most of the period, though it experienced a notable decline after 1980. In contrast, both Retail and Healthcare sectors witnessed consistent growth, while Agriculture saw a steady and significant fall over the same timeframe.

In 1960, Manufacturing employed the highest number of workers at approximately 15 million, rising to a peak of around 20 million by 1980. However, this figure declined sharply thereafter, falling to nearly 12 million by 2020. Agriculture, which employed around 5.2 million people in 1960, followed a downward trajectory throughout the period, reaching its lowest point of approximately 2 million jobs by 2020.

By contrast, the Retail sector began at roughly the same level as Agriculture — around 5.2 million in 1960 — but grew consistently over the decades, surpassing Manufacturing to reach approximately 16 million jobs by 2020, making it the largest employer by the end of the period. Healthcare, which had the fewest workers in 1960 at around 2 million, also rose steadily and by 2020 had matched the Retail sector at nearly 16 million, reflecting a remarkable transformation in the US economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The student has provided an exceptionally thorough and accurate response that covers all parts of the task. The overview clearly highlights the main trends, noting the dominance and subsequent decline of Manufacturing, the consistent growth in Retail and Healthcare, and the downward trend in Agriculture. Specific data points from the chart are reported accurately, such as Manufacturing peaking at around 20 million in 1980 and Agriculture falling to roughly 2 million by 2020. The comparisons between sectors, such as Retail and Agriculture starting at similar points in 1960 and diverging significantly, are well articulated and directly supported by the visual data. The response meets all the requirements for a top-tier score under this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The text exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The response is well-structured into four distinct paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, and two detailed body paragraphs that handle the data logically. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In contrast', 'However', and 'By contrast' are used naturally and flexibly to guide the reader through the comparisons without being intrusive. Paragraphing is handled proficiently, with each paragraph serving a distinct and clear function in the overall structure of the essay. Referencing throughout the response is unambiguous and smooth.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and fluent range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common vocabulary items and collocation are used skillfully, such as 'dominated employment', 'notable decline', 'downward trajectory', and 'remarkable transformation'. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no errors in spelling or word formation. The student successfully avoids repetitive phrasing by employing synonyms and varied descriptions for trends and figures, indicating a strong command of lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response features a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates excellent control over subordinate clauses, participial phrases (e.g., 'surpassing Manufacturing to reach approximately 16 million jobs'), and relative clauses. Punctuation is used effectively to structure complex sentences and aid readability. There are no noticeable grammatical errors or awkward phrasings that impede communication, reflecting a strong command of grammar appropriate for a high band score.

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