Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-25

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 table illustrates the underground railway systems in London, Paris, Tokyo, Washington, D.C., Kyoto, and Los Angeles. The data includes the opening date, route length in kilometers, and the number of passengers using the railway system per year, in millions.

Overall, London is the oldest city to establish an underground railway, while Los Angeles recently adopted it. The longest railway route was built in London, while the shortest one was in Kyoto. The Tokyo underground railway station receives the highest number of passengers per year, and the Kyoto station receives the lowest.

Established in 1863, London has the longest route of 394 kilometers, used by 775 million people each year. Thirty-seven years later, Paris adopted the underground railway system with a route length of 199 kilometers, receiving 1927 million passengers per year. Tokyo built this system in 1927, with a route length of 155 kilometers, and it is a highly used underground system, carrying 1927 million passengers every year.

An underground railway system of 126 kilometers was established in Washington, DC, in 1976, with 144 million passengers per year. Kyoto city's 1981 railway station had the shortest route, 11 kilometers, with the smallest number of passengers per year (45 million). The most recent one is in Los Angeles, built in 2001 with a 28-kilometer route length and five million more passengers per year than Kyoto City's station.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the information presented in the table. In the overview paragraph, the main trends and extremes are correctly identified, such as London being the oldest and having the longest route, and Tokyo having the highest passenger numbers. Data is accurately reported and compared across all categories (date opened, route length, and passenger numbers). For instance, the student notes that London has 394 kilometers of route used by 775 million people, and correctly details Kyoto as having the shortest route and smallest passenger count. There are minor data attribution slips in the body paragraph—such as stating that Paris receives 1927 million passengers per year instead of Tokyo—which slightly detracts from absolute data accuracy. However, the overall response covers all key features well and satisfies the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised, featuring a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and well-structured body paragraphs that break down the cities. Information flows smoothly from general features to specific data points. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons, using phrases like 'Overall', 'Established in 1863', and 'The most recent one'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the visual data. Reference words and logical connectors are employed well, maintaining clear progression throughout the text without noticeable mechanical faults, fully aligning with Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, employing terms such as 'illustrates', 'establish', 'adopted', and 'extreme' categories effectively. Less common vocabulary items and functional phrases like 'highest number of passengers', 'shortest route', and 'most recent one' are handled appropriately. While the vocabulary is generally well-suited to an academic report, there are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice or phrasing—such as referring to transit systems as 'stations' when discussing cities as a whole. Overall, the lexical range is adequate and meets the criteria for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer employs a good variety of complex sentence structures alongside simple forms, demonstrating good overall control of grammar and punctuation. Examples include relative clauses and participial phrases, such as 'Established in 1863, London has the longest route...' and '...used by 775 million people each year.' There are frequent error-free sentences, and the minor errors present do not impede communication. Punctuation is generally accurate, aiding readability. The control over complex structures and sentence variety firmly places this response in the Band 7 category.

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