Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-13
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 8.0)
The chart and table illustrate the employment outcomes and salary ranges of Anthropology graduates from a particular university.
Overall, the majority of graduates secured some form of employment after completing their studies, with full-time work being the most common. Salaries varied considerably across different employment sectors, with public sector roles offering higher wages than retail positions.
According to the chart, 44% of graduates obtained full-time employment, making it the most prevalent career outcome. A further 25% found part-time jobs, while 12% pursued full-time postgraduate studies. Additionally, 11% combined part-time work with further study, and only 8% were unemployed, indicating relatively strong job prospects for Anthropology graduates.
The table highlights that among those in employment, 57% earned between $30,000 and $34,999, and 20% received between $35,000 and $39,999. Notably, 8% of graduates earned over $40,000, suggesting that a minority achieved high-paying positions. In terms of sectors, half of the employed graduates worked in the public sector, which appears to offer the most lucrative salaries. In contrast, teaching and retail/wholesale trade each employed 15% of graduates, likely correlating with the lower end of the salary spectrum.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the data and selected key features to report, such as the prevalence of full-time employment and the salary distribution. The comparison between sectors and salary brackets is well-integrated. You have successfully highlighted the main trends without getting bogged down in every single data point, which is exactly what is required for a Band 8 or 9 performance. The information is accurate and directly supported by the provided charts.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction/overview, the employment outcomes, and the salary/sector breakdown. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Notably', and 'In contrast' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of cohesive devices, making the writing easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases like 'prevalent career outcome', 'lucrative salaries', and 'correlating with the lower end' show a sophisticated command of language. The word choice is precise and fits the context of describing statistical data well. There are no spelling errors, and the vocabulary is used naturally. To reach the highest band, you could incorporate even more varied collocations related to data interpretation, but the current range is already quite strong.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as participial phrases ('suggesting that a minority...') and subordinate clauses ('among those in employment...'), with excellent control. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your sentences. There are no noticeable grammatical errors, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the response.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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