Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-21

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 accompanying pie chart illustrates the destinations of Anthropology graduates from a particular university, while the table provides a comparative breakdown of their earnings across three employment sectors after five years.

Overall, full-time employment accounted for by far the largest proportion of graduates, whereas only a relatively small minority pursued postgraduate study alongside part-time employment. In terms of earnings, the government sector recorded the highest proportion of graduates in the top salary bracket, while freelance consultants were most evenly distributed across the two highest income bands.

Turning to the destinations of the graduates, full-time employment was by far the most prevalent outcome, accounting for 52% of the cohort. Part-time employment represented a considerably smaller proportion, at 15%, followed by unemployment at 12%. By comparison, full-time postgraduate study and outcomes that were not known each accounted for 8%, while just 5% combined part-time employment with postgraduate study, making this the least common destination.

Turning to the salary distribution after five years, the government sector recorded the highest proportion of employees earning $100,000 or more, at 50%, compared with 40% among freelance consultants and 30% in private companies. Freelance consultants, however, had an identical 40% share in the $75,000–99,999 and $100,000+ brackets. At the lower end of the scale, private companies had the largest proportion earning between $25,000 and $49,999, at 10%, while the corresponding figures for the other two sectors stood at just 5%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent and fully addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview that highlights 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 distribution between the government sector and private companies. All key features are covered, and the information is logically presented, ensuring the reader gets a comprehensive summary of the data provided. There are no omissions, and the response is well-focused throughout.

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 overall summary, the analysis of graduate destinations, and the analysis of salary distribution. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Turning to', 'By comparison', and 'At the lower end of the scale', which help guide the reader smoothly through the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing is clear throughout. The flow of information is natural and professional, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have demonstrated a wide and precise range of vocabulary. The use of terms such as 'prevalent outcome', 'comparative breakdown', 'cohort', and 'salary bracket' is sophisticated and appropriate for an academic report. The collocations are natural, and there is no evidence of word-choice errors. You have successfully avoided repetition by using varied synonyms to describe the data, which contributes to the overall fluency of the writing. The vocabulary is flexible and used with a high degree of accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including subordinate clauses and comparative constructions, used with full flexibility and accuracy. The sentences are well-constructed, and there are no grammatical errors. Punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text. The writing is error-free, demonstrating a high level of grammatical competence that is expected at the top end of the scale.

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