Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-01

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 chart illustrates regarding underground railway which is in six different cities.

To begin with, The biggest route was opened in London which was 394 kilometers in 1863, and the number of traveller per year was 775. However, The smallest route was begin in Kyoto(11 km) and only 45 number of passenger use this route which was 5 number less in Los Angeles in 2001 (28km).

All other underground railway systems was developed in 20th century. The kilometers of route was 126 in Washington Dc , which was 29 km and 63km less than Tokyo and Paris. The most of passenger per year use Tokyo railway that was 1927 in 1927, whereas this number for Paris was 1191 in 1900 ,and 144 in Washington Dc in 1976.

Overall, The highest number of passenger use Tokyo railways and least for Los Angles and Kyoto.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main features, such as the oldest and largest systems, the analysis is somewhat superficial. You have included data for all cities, but the comparisons are occasionally confusing, such as the statement regarding Kyoto and Los Angeles. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview that highlights the most significant trends and ensure all data points are accurately interpreted. The under-length nature of the response means that the task is not fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression is hindered by awkward phrasing and some confusing transitions. For example, the sentence 'which was 5 number less in Los Angeles' is unclear and disrupts the flow of the comparison. While you use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Overall', the connections between sentences are often mechanical or imprecise. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will help improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You frequently use basic terms like 'number' and 'route'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'The smallest route was begin' (should be 'began') and 'number of traveller' (should be 'travellers'). To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more varied vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'commuters', 'annual ridership', or 'extensive network'. Additionally, ensure that you use the correct word forms to convey your meaning accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('All other underground railway systems was developed') and incorrect tense usage ('The smallest route was begin'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and parentheses. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement, consistent tense usage, and incorporating a wider variety of complex sentence structures.

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

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