Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-12
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 5.0)
The illustration shows the information about the surface below the railway system in following urban areas. The cities are London, Paris, Tokyo, Washington DC, , Kyoto and Los Angeles. Overall, the yearly service was maximum in Tokyo or minimum in Kyoto.
It is quite evident from the London's service opened in 1863 and its route was 394 kilometers yearly or its annually passengers were 775 millions .in other side the Paris was covered 199 kilometers or its turnover was 1191 as compared to London its turnover was rapidly high. if we talk about the Tokyo , the lower the surface railway system was introduced in 1927 and its covered 155 kilometer distance yearly but its service to transport commuters from one place to their destination per year was high As Contrast to London or Paris that was 1927 billion.
Furthermore, IN Washing ton DC the subsurface railway system was commence in 1976. On the other hand this system was also introduced in Kyoto or Los Angeles . The yearly ratio of travelers was max 50 billion per year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the table, such as the oldest and newest systems and the highest passenger numbers. However, there are significant inaccuracies in the data reporting. For instance, you state Tokyo has 1927 billion passengers, whereas the table indicates 1927 million. Similarly, you mention 50 billion for Los Angeles, which is also incorrect. These errors misrepresent the data provided. While you attempt to make comparisons, the lack of precision in reporting the figures and the confusion between units (millions vs. billions) significantly impacts the accuracy of the summary. To improve, ensure you transcribe figures exactly as they appear in the source material.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps the overall structure. However, the logical flow is often disrupted by awkward phrasing and missing cohesive devices. Transitions like 'in other side' and 'if we talk about' are unnatural and do not effectively link ideas. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the grouping of Washington DC, Kyoto, and Los Angeles lacks a clear logical connection. To improve, use a wider range of linking words such as 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', or 'Conversely' to create a smoother progression between sentences and paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and often misused. Phrases like 'surface below the railway system' and 'turnover was rapidly high' are not appropriate for describing statistical data. There is also a reliance on basic vocabulary, and some word choices are confusing, such as 'commence' used as a verb in a way that does not fit the context. You need to focus on using more precise terminology for data reporting, such as 'commenced operation', 'annual ridership', or 'extensive network'. Expanding your range of academic collocations will help improve your score in this area.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with article usage ('the London's service'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or run-on, such as 'the lower the surface railway system was introduced in 1927 and its covered 155 kilometer distance yearly'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before periods and commas. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like verb tense consistency and the correct use of prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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