Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-26
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The take below gives information about the underground railway systems in six cities.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Underground Railway Systems
City Date opened Kilometers of route Passengers per year (in millions) London 1863 394 775 Paris 1900 199 1191 Tokyo 1927 155 1927 Washington DC 1976 126 144 Kyoto 1981 11 45 Los Angeles 2001 28 50
Student answer (Band 6.0)
The table displays data for the subway system in London, Paris, Tokyo, Washington DC, Kyoto and Los Angeles.
Overall, it is clear that the oldest and longest route covered by underground railways built in London city, while a maximum number of passengers travel by underground train is recorded in Tokyo.
The latest metro built was in 2001 at Los Angeles covering 28 km distance and used by 50 million travelers. Kyoto's subway is shortest among all other cities which is only 11 km long. Underground trains were started in Tokyo in 1927 used by 1927 millions of people which is maximum among others. On the other hand London's metro is spread in vast area of 394 km which is used by 775 million passengers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main features (oldest/longest systems and passenger numbers), the analysis is quite brief. You have included all six cities, but the lack of length means the comparison is somewhat superficial. To improve, you should aim to group the data more effectively—for example, comparing the older, larger systems like London and Paris against the newer, smaller ones like Kyoto and Los Angeles—and provide more detailed commentary on the trends observed in the data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into two short paragraphs, but it lacks a clear structure. The transition between the overview and the body details is abrupt. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Overall' and 'On the other hand', the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical. The ideas are presented in a list-like fashion rather than being synthesized into a cohesive report. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your comparisons more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You use terms like 'latest metro', 'shortest', and 'spread in vast area', which are functional but lack the precision expected at higher bands. There are also some minor issues with word choice, such as 'London city' (should be 'London') and 'used by 1927 millions' (which is grammatically awkward). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to data reporting, such as 'commence', 'encompass', or 'substantial'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. For example, 'the oldest and longest route covered by underground railways built in London city' is a fragmented and awkward construction. Additionally, 'Underground trains were started in Tokyo in 1927 used by 1927 millions' lacks necessary prepositions and punctuation. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your sentences are complete and grammatically sound before moving on to more complex structures.
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