Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-20

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 7.5)

The table gives information about underground railway systems in six different cities. It shows the date they were opened, the length of the route and the number of passengers using them every year.

Overall, London has the oldest underground railway and also the longest route. On the other hand, Los Angeles has the newest system. Tokyo has the highest number of passengers, while Kyoto has the lowest number.

London underground was opened in 1863, which makes it the oldest system in the table. It has a route of 394 kilometres, which is much longer than all the other cities. However, it carries 775 million passengers per year. Paris was opened in 1900 and has a route of 199 kilometres. It has more passengers than London, with 1,191 million people using it every year.

Tokyo underground started in 1927 and has 155 kilometres of route. Although its route is shorter than London and Paris, it has the highest number of passengers, at 1,927 million per year. Washington DC system was opened in 1976 and has 126 kilometres of route. It carries only 144 million passengers annually, which is much lower compared to Tokyo and Paris.

The two remaining systems are Kyoto and Los Angeles. Kyoto was opened in 1981 and has the shortest route, at only 11 kilometres. It also has the lowest number of passengers, with 45 million every year. Los Angeles is the newest system, opened in 2001. Its route is 28 kilometres long and around 50 million passengers use it every year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview of the data and selecting the key features from the table. The main trends and extremes are accurately identified, such as London having the oldest system and longest route, Tokyo having the highest passenger numbers, and Kyoto having the shortest route and fewest passengers. Comparisons are made effectively throughout the body paragraphs. For instance, the student correctly contrasts Tokyo's shorter route with its significantly higher passenger volume compared to London and Paris. The response is fully developed and well-supported with specific figures from the prompt, meeting all requirements for a Band 7.5 or 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response features a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. An effective introduction is followed by a strong overview paragraph that captures the most significant trends. The body paragraphs are grouped logically by cities and themes, progressing smoothly from London and Paris to Tokyo and Washington DC, and concluding with Kyoto and Los Angeles. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'Overall', 'On the other hand', and 'Although', connecting ideas logically without becoming mechanical. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each distinct set of data given its own coherent paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision for this task type. Appropriate lexical items related to data reporting and transit systems are used, such as 'route', 'passengers per year', 'annual', and 'system'. Less common phrasing is attempted with good effect, including phrases like 'carries 775 million passengers per year' and 'lowest number of passengers'. Word choice is generally accurate, and although some vocabulary is repeated (e.g., 'route', 'opened'), the overall lexical resource is adequate for a solid Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of successful complex sentences include 'London underground was opened in 1863, which makes it the oldest system in the table' and 'Although its route is shorter than London and Paris, it has the highest number of passengers'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is well-managed. There are only very occasional minor awkwardnesses, but overall control is strong and supports clear communication throughout.

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

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