Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-31
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The chart below shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree course. The table shows the salaries of the anthropologists in work after five years.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparison where relevant.
Student answer (Band 8.5)
Introduction
The pie chart illustrates what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree, while the table shows the salaries these graduates earned after five years in work.
Overall, it is clear that most graduates entered full-time work immediately, while only a small proportion remained unemployed. In addition, government employees were more likely to earn high salaries after five years than those in private companies.
Just over half of graduates (52%) went straight into full-time work, making this the most popular destination. Full-time postgraduate study attracted 12%, while part-time work and part-time work with postgraduate study accounted for 15% and 8% respectively. By comparison, only 8% were unemployed, and 5% had an unknown status.
Regarding salaries, exactly half of government sector employees earned $100,000 or more, compared with 40% of freelance consultants and only 30% of private company workers. Conversely, private companies had the highest share earning below $50,000 (10%), whereas freelancers and government workers were equally represented at just 5% in that bracket.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends in both the pie chart and the table. The selection of data is accurate, and you have successfully made relevant comparisons, such as contrasting the salary distributions between government employees and private company workers. The information is well-selected and supports the summary effectively, meeting all requirements for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, the pie chart data, and the salary table data. Cohesive devices such as 'By comparison,' 'Regarding,' and 'Conversely' are used effectively to link ideas and guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information precisely. Terms like 'destination,' 'accounted for,' 'freelance consultants,' and 'bracket' are used accurately in context. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic report. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or collocations could elevate the response further, but the current range is already quite strong for this task type.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly, and the subject-verb agreement is consistent. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which demonstrates a strong command of English grammar. The clarity of your expression is excellent, and there are no instances where errors impede communication.
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