Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-30

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 7.5)

The table provides data about the subway systems in six metropolises. Most of these cities were opened in the twentieth century and the older subways have longer routes, but the passengers in a year widely varies.

The subway in London is the oldest and the longest of the rail systems. It dates back to 1863 making it thirty-seven years older than the railway in Paris and it is almost two hundred kilometers longer than it although it is the second oldest and second longest track. The newest railway was made in 2001 and sited in Los Angeles although the shortest route is found in Kyoto and is seventeen kilometers shorter.

However, there does not seem to be a clear correlation between the number of passengers and the date of establishment or the length of the route. The most frequented subway is in Tokyo although it is not the longest or the oldest. The least amount of passengers go to the railway in Kyoto but it is the shortest route.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the table and provided relevant comparisons. You covered the key data points, such as the oldest/longest systems (London) and the most frequented (Tokyo). However, the report could be improved by including more specific data for the cities mentioned in the middle of the table, such as Paris or Washington DC, to provide a more comprehensive overview. The overview is present but could be more clearly separated from the body paragraphs to ensure the 'main features' are highlighted effectively. Overall, you have addressed the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from general observations to specific comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the descriptive body, and the analytical conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'however', 'although', and 'the most frequented' are used effectively to link ideas. The flow of information is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the comparisons between the different cities. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is always precise, as some comparisons (e.g., 'longer than it') are slightly ambiguous.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information clearly. Phrases like 'clear correlation', 'date of establishment', and 'most frequented' are used accurately. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'sited in Los Angeles' (which is slightly unnatural in this context) and 'the least amount of passengers' (where 'number' would be more precise for countable nouns). However, these errors do not impede communication and you have successfully used topic-specific vocabulary related to transport systems.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'although' and 'which' clauses. While there are some grammatical slips, such as 'the passengers in a year widely varies' (should be 'vary') and 'the newest railway was made in 2001' (passive voice is acceptable, but 'opened' or 'established' would be more precise), the majority of your sentences are clear and error-free. Punctuation is generally accurate, and your control of grammar is sufficient to maintain a professional tone throughout the report.

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