Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-15
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 table illustrates information about how the underground system in several cities such as London,Paris,Tokyo,Washington DC,Kyoto,Los Angeles.
Overall,The highest kilometers of route had in 1863 in London.The Kyoto and Los Angeles both had lowest kilometers of route in 1981.Paris,Tokyo and Washington had almost similar kilometers of route respectively.
In Tokyo,The passengers noted 1927 which kilometers of route had 155 in 1927.Paris renked at second number with 1191 passengers per year which accounted 199 in 1900.In Kyoto and Los Angeles both declined with 11 and 28 kilometers of route with tourist per year in 1981 and 2001 respectively.
In 1863 and 1976 both had 394 and
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 105 words long and remains unfinished. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you have identified some data points, the analysis is incomplete and lacks a clear overview of the main trends. The comparison between cities is superficial, and the final sentence is cut off, preventing a full summary of the provided information. To improve, ensure you complete the task by providing a full analysis of all categories and reaching the required word count.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks logical progression and effective paragraphing. While there is an attempt at an introduction and body paragraphs, the ideas are disjointed. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, such as the repetitive use of 'In' to start sentences. The lack of a conclusion and the abrupt ending significantly hinder the flow of information. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'whereas', 'in contrast', 'furthermore') and ensure each paragraph has a clear focus, moving from general trends to specific comparisons.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'had' and 'kilometers of route'. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'renked at second number' instead of 'ranked second' and 'tourist per year' instead of 'passengers'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the data with precision. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more varied verbs and nouns related to data description, such as 'commenced', 'experienced', 'figures', and 'statistics'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement, sentence structure, and punctuation. For example, 'The highest kilometers of route had in 1863 in London' is grammatically incorrect and confusing. Many sentences are fragmented or poorly constructed, which impedes clarity. You should focus on mastering basic sentence structures before attempting more complex ones. Pay close attention to verb tenses and ensure that every sentence has a clear subject and a correctly conjugated verb.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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