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 graph illustrates the data surrondings underground railway systems in various cities located in different continents.
Overall, it is quite evident that the underground railway in London was established first among all of them. While, Tokyo had the most number of commuters per year.
The underground railway system was constructed in 1863 and it has a route of total 394 kilometers. However, only 775 millions passengers use it for commuting per year which is a low amount compare to other cities. Furthermore, Paris, Tokyo and Washington DC all were established the railway system in 19th centuries. Among them Tokyo have the largest numbers of commuters with 19
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, which significantly impacts the score. The content is incomplete, as the writer stops mid-sentence while discussing the data. While the introduction and overview attempt to address the task, the body paragraphs are severely underdeveloped and fail to report on all six cities provided in the table. Key comparisons are missing, and the data provided for Tokyo is incomplete and inaccurate (19 instead of 1927). To improve, you must ensure all data points are covered and the response reaches the required length.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is too short to demonstrate a full range of cohesive devices or effective paragraphing. While there is a basic attempt at an introduction and an overview, the abrupt ending prevents a logical progression of ideas. The use of linking words like 'However' and 'Furthermore' is present, but the overall structure is fragmented due to the incomplete nature of the text. To improve, focus on completing the summary and using a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect sentences and paragraphs more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is limited by the brevity of the response. There are some spelling errors, such as 'surrondings' instead of 'surrounding'. The range of vocabulary is basic, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise terminology related to data description. To improve, try to incorporate more varied vocabulary to describe trends and comparisons, such as 'the highest number of', 'a significant proportion', or 'a stark contrast'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, such as 'most number of commuters' (should be 'highest number of commuters') and 'established the railway system in 19th centuries' (should be 'in the 19th century'). The sentence structure is relatively simple, and the incomplete sentence at the end demonstrates a lack of control. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors and the lack of complex structures limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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