Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-10
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)
The pie chart illustrates the destinations of Anthropology graduates from one university after completing their undergraduate degree, while the table compares the salaries of anthropologists after five years of employment.
Overall, full-time work was the most common destination among graduates, whereas unemployment and part-time work combined with postgraduate study accounted for the smallest proportions. After five years, anthropologists employed in the government sector and those working as freelance consultants generally earned higher salaries than those in private companies.
Regarding graduates' destinations, 52% obtained full-time employment, making it by far the most popular outcome. Part-time work was the second most common choice at 15%, followed by unknown destinations, which represented 12% of graduates. Equal proportions of 8% either pursued full-time postgraduate study or were unemployed. Only 5% combined part-time work with postgraduate education.
As for salaries after five years, government employees were the highest paid overall, with 50% earning more than $100,000 and a further 30% receiving between $75,000 and $99,999. Freelance consultants also earned substantial incomes, as 40% fell into each of the top two salary bands. By contrast, private company employees tended to earn less, with the largest proportion (35%) receiving salaries ranging from $50,000 to $74,999. Moreover, only 30% of workers in this sector earned over $100,000, compared with 40% of freelance consultants and 50% of government employees.
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 is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by summarizing the main features of both the pie chart and the table. Your overview effectively highlights the key trends, such as the dominance of full-time work and the salary disparities between sectors. You have selected relevant data points to support your descriptions, such as the 52% figure for full-time employment and the specific salary brackets for government employees. The comparison between the sectors is clear and well-integrated, meeting all the requirements for a high-band response.
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 graduate destinations, and the salary analysis. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'whereas', 'regarding', 'by contrast', and 'moreover', to link sentences and ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows naturally from one point to the next, making the report very easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'destinations of Anthropology graduates', 'accounted for the smallest proportions', and 'substantial incomes' are used accurately and naturally. You avoid repetition by using varied terminology to describe the data, such as 'obtained', 'pursued', and 'receiving'. The vocabulary is sophisticated and fits the academic context of the task perfectly, showing a high level of control over word choice and collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
Your writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'The pie chart illustrates... while the table compares...' and 'Freelance consultants also earned substantial incomes, as 40% fell into each of the top two salary bands.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors in grammar or syntax. The control over sentence structure is consistent and supports the clarity of your report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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