Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-11
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 5.5)
the tabular chart depicts the information about underground railway systems in town namely, London, Paris, Tokyo, Washington n DC, Kyoto, Los Angeles between 1863 and 2001.
overall, Tokyo and Paris had the highest proportion of traveller throughout the period whereas, Kyoto and Los Angeles had least amount passengers .
In London 1863, almost 775 person went by railway ,which ran 394km afterword, in Paris underground metro became highly demanded by local traveler accounted for 1191 and took journey 199 km per year. in 1927 , about 2000 citizens utilized underground train facilities per 155 km route in Tokyo city.
Moving further, Washington n DC in 1976 the demand of metro was seen limited by 144 individuals per year. whilst, after five in Kyoto only 11 kilometer of route took by hardly 45 passenger which was the lower position compare to other cities on the other hand, 50 traveler were went into underground service in Los Angeles .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and making comparisons. However, the data interpretation is inaccurate in several places. For example, you state that 2000 citizens utilized the train in Tokyo, whereas the table indicates 1927 million passengers. Additionally, the phrasing 'almost 775 person' is imprecise as the unit is millions. While you have selected the main features, the lack of precision in reporting the data prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure that units (millions) are consistently included and that figures are transcribed accurately from the table.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'afterword' and 'after five'. The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. While there is a logical progression from an overview to specific details, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the awkward phrasing at the start of sentences limit the flow. Improving the variety and accuracy of transition signals would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'traveller' instead of 'passengers' and 'took journey' instead of 'covered a distance'. The use of 'lower position' to describe data is also imprecise. While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'underground railway systems' and 'route', the frequent errors in collocation and word form hinder the overall quality. Focusing on accurate collocations related to data reporting would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles ('in London 1863'), incorrect verb forms ('50 traveler were went'), and punctuation errors (e.g., 'Washington n DC'). The sentence structure is often repetitive and lacks the control needed for higher bands. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent use of articles, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately without unnecessary word additions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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