Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-05

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 8.5)

The table compares the underground railway systems in six cities in terms of the year they opened, the length of their routes and the number of passengers they carry annually.

Overall, London has the oldest and longest underground railway system, while Los Angeles has the newest. Tokyo carries by far the highest number of passengers per year, whereas Kyoto has the lowest passenger figure and the shortest route.

London's underground system, which opened in 1863, is the oldest of the six and has the longest route, at 394 kilometres. Paris opened its system in 1900 and has a considerably shorter route of 199 kilometres. Tokyo's railway began operating in 1927 and covers 155 kilometres. Despite having a shorter network than both London and Paris, Tokyo is the busiest system, carrying 1,927 million passengers annually, compared with 1,191 million in Paris and 775 million in London.

The three newer systems are considerably less busy. Washington DC, which opened in 1976, has a 126-kilometre route and carries 144 million passengers per year. Kyoto has the shortest network, at only 11 kilometres, and the lowest number of passengers, at 45 million. Finally, Los Angeles has the newest system, having opened in 2001. Its route is 28 kilometres long and it serves 50 million passengers annually.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have successfully identified the main features, such as London being the oldest and longest system and Tokyo having the highest passenger volume. The comparisons are accurate and well-supported by the data provided in the table. You have effectively grouped the information into logical categories—the older, larger systems versus the newer, smaller ones—which helps the reader digest the data clearly. There are no omissions, and the overview provides a concise summary of the key trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an overview to a detailed analysis of the older systems, and finally to the newer ones. Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'whereas', 'despite', and 'finally' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is skillful, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparisons between the six cities.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'considerably shorter route', 'busiest system', and 'serves 50 million passengers annually' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is varied, avoiding unnecessary repetition and showing a good command of collocations related to data description. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the language used is sophisticated enough to convey the information with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'London's underground system, which opened in 1863, is the oldest...', and maintain control over tense usage and punctuation. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the few structures used are handled with flexibility. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the overall flow is smooth and professional, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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