Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-30

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 6.5)

The tabular representation depicts the information about six underground railway systems in terms of the year they were opened, the length of their routes, and the number of passengers they carry annually.

Having an overview, it is succinct that dominant value was attained by Tokyo, whilst least can be noted in the case of Kyoto.

At the fleeting glance, it can be seen that London was opened in 1863, making it the oldest among the six cities. It also has the longest route, at 394 kilometers, and carries approximately 775 million passengers annually. Paris, which opened in 1990, has a route length of 199 kilometers and serves 1191 million passengers each year. Tokyo's railway system began operating in 1927 and has 155 kilometers of track.

Moving towards the rest of information, Tokyo carries the highest number of passengers, at 1927 million per year. Washington DC, opened in 1976, has 126 kilometers of routes and transports 144 million passengers annually. The smallest systems are Kyoto and Los Angeles. Kyoto opened in 1981 and has only 11 kilometers of route, serving 45 million passengers each year. Finally, Los Angeles, which is the newest system, opened in 2001 and has 28 kilometers of track, carving 50 million passengers annually.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the data, including the oldest/newest systems and the extremes in route length and passenger numbers. The overview is present, though slightly vague in its phrasing. You successfully identified the main trends and made relevant comparisons, such as contrasting London's age and route length with the high passenger volume in Tokyo. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview is more specific by mentioning the general relationship between the variables rather than just stating that one is 'dominant'. Overall, the task is well-addressed with clear reporting of the provided data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with a logical progression from an introduction to an overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moving towards the rest of information' and 'Finally', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or unnatural, such as 'Having an overview, it is succinct that...'. Improving the variety and sophistication of your linking phrases would enhance the flow. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is sequenced in a way that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'tabular representation', 'annually', and 'transports' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'carving 50 million passengers', where 'carrying' or 'serving' would be more accurate. Additionally, the phrase 'At the fleeting glance' is slightly unnatural in this context. While you use some less common vocabulary, there is room to incorporate more precise terminology related to data description to reach a higher band. Spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of relative clauses ('Paris, which opened in 1990...'). Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there is a factual error in the text where you state Paris opened in 1990 (the table says 1900). Grammatically, the sentence 'Having an overview, it is succinct that dominant value was attained by Tokyo' is slightly awkward and lacks an article before 'dominant'. Despite these minor issues, your control of grammar is generally good, and the errors do not impede communication.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.