Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23
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 provided line graph compares employment figures across four major economic sectors—manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and healthcare—in the US between 1960 and 2020.
Overall, there was a pronounced shift in the American job market away from traditional sectors like manufacturing and agriculture, towards service-oriented industries such as healthcare and retail. Notably, while manufacturing was initially the largest employer, healthcare and retail grew to share the top position by the end of the period.
In 1960, manufacturing led significantly with 15 million jobs. This figure peaked at 20 million in 1980 before experiencing a steady, long-term decline to around 13 million by 2020. Agriculture also followed a downward trajectory; starting at 6 million jobs, it halved by 1980 and then dwindled gradually to a low of approximately 2 million.
Conversely, the retail and healthcare sectors witnessed substantial job creation. Retail employment climbed consistently throughout the six decades, rising from 6 million to finish at 16 million. Healthcare exhibited the most dramatic growth; beginning as the smallest sector with merely 2 million jobs in 1960, it accelerated rapidly after 1980 to eventually match retail at 16 million by 2020.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.5
The response fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1 by selecting and reporting all the main features of the line graph. The overview accurately captures the broader economic shift from traditional sectors to service industries, highlighting that manufacturing initially led while healthcare and retail converged at the top by 2020. The body paragraphs accurately report data points from the visual reference, such as manufacturing peaking at 20 million in 1980 before falling to 13 million, and healthcare expanding from 2 million to 16 million. Figures and comparisons are well-supported with precise data, reflecting a high level of accuracy and completeness.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5
The essay is exceptionally well-structured and easy to follow. Ideas are logically sequenced, beginning with a clear introductory statement, followed by an overarching summary of trends, and then two detailed body paragraphs divided logically between declining and growing sectors. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and unobtrusively, with effective use of transitional markers such as 'Overall', 'Notably', and 'Conversely'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct trends, ensuring a seamless flow of information throughout the response.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
The candidate demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic report. Words and phrases such as 'pronounced shift', 'downward trajectory', 'substantial job creation', and 'accelerated rapidly' are used with a high degree of precision and natural collocation. There are no notable spelling or lexical errors, and the vocabulary choices effectively convey the nuances of the economic data.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The response displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures executed with a high level of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated syntactic constructions such as participial phrases ('beginning as the smallest sector with merely 2 million jobs') and subordinate clauses. Punctuation is handled flawlessly, and control over tense and aspect when discussing historical data is consistent and precise.
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