Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-02

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 illustrate the underground railway system in six different cities.

Overall,it is evident that Tokyo had highest passengers in it,while Kyoto made lowest share of passengers that travel underground railway.

Turning to details,1191 of proportion that travel underground railway in 1900 million in paris,which closely followed by Londan,about 755 million,in 1863.The proportion of underground railways in Tokyo,in 1927,nearly 1927 million.

Probing further,Washington dc accounted for 144 million in 1926,whereas Kyoto notablyb ,roughly 45 million ,in 1981 which was 11 kilometer way.Los Angeles had lowest share of railway ,at approximately 50 million,in 2001,while it significantly 28 kilometer way

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response falls significantly short of the minimum word length requirement, containing only 99 words instead of the required 150. Consequently, the task is only addressed in a minimal way. While the writer attempts to summarise the table by mentioning dates, route lengths, and passenger numbers for some cities, the information is presented in a fragmented manner. Key features and comparisons are only partially covered, with several data points confused or inaccurately reported, such as conflating the date of opening with passenger volumes and route lengths (e.g., '1900 million in paris' and 'Washington dc accounted for 144 million in 1926'). To reach a higher level, the writer must ensure the word count is fully met, provide accurate data reporting without mixing up categories, and offer a more thorough comparison of the main features across all cities.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some basic organisation in the response, beginning with an introductory sentence and attempting an overview ('Overall,it is evident that...'). However, there is no clear overall progression, and the arrangement of details feels disjointed. Cohesive devices are used minimally and somewhat awkwardly, with repetitive transitions like 'Turning to details' and 'Probing further'. Paragraphing is not effectively managed, as the body of the text is lumped together rather than logically structured by city or category. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of information. To improve coherence and cohesion, the writer should use clearer paragraph breaks, avoid mechanical transitions, and ensure that ideas and data are sequenced in a logical and easily followable progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common terms related to data reporting, such as 'proportion' and 'share', but these are frequently misused in awkward collocations or incorrect contexts (e.g., 'lowest share of passengers that travel underground railway' and '1191 of proportion'). There are also notable typographical and spelling errors, such as 'notablyb' and 'Londan', alongside basic word-formation slips. While meaning can sometimes be extracted, the noticeable lexical errors cause difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to expand their range of vocabulary, use precise terms for statistical trends, and carefully check their work for spelling and collocation accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writing demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences or faulty attempts at complex clauses. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing verbs (e.g., 'The table chart illustrate' and 'Tokyo had highest'), incorrect prepositions (e.g., 'kilometer way'), and major subject-verb or number agreement issues. Punctuation is also problematic, with missing spaces after commas and periods. These frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader in interpreting the intended meaning. To progress, the writer must focus on foundational grammar, ensuring proper subject-verb agreement, accurate use of articles and prepositions, and constructing error-free simple and complex sentences.

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