Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-06

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 6.0)

The table illutrates the data about the underground railway systems across six cities (London, Paris, Tokyo, Washigton DC, Kyoto, and Los Angeles).

Overall, they indicate that over the period the kilometers of route covered by underground railway systems declined, while London was the highest. In contrast, passengers per year in millions was the greatest in Tokyo than Kyoto.

In 1863, 394 kilometers of route covered by underground railway systems in London with 775 millions passengers per year. Then in 1900 in Paris, it decreased to 199 kilometers of route with an increased in 1191 millions passengers per year. Similarly, in 1927, 155 kilometers of route was covered in Tokyo having 1927 millions passengers per year, which was the highest figure of the period.

Regarding Washington DC, in 1976 the underground railway covered 126 kilometers of route having decreased in passengers per year at about 144 millions. After that, Kyoto accounted for the smallest catogeries having 11 kilometers of route with 45 millions passengers per year by 1981. Finally, Los Angeles railway systems covered 28 kilometers of route with 50 millions passengers per year, which represented the second lowest catogaries of the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main features of the table, successfully presenting data for all six cities, including dates opened, route lengths, and annual passenger numbers. However, the overview is flawed and confusing, claiming that the kilometers of route declined over the period when the data simply shows a chronological progression of cities opening their systems. Furthermore, some details are under-developed or inaccurately synthesised, such as stating that 'London was the highest' regarding route length, which is correct, but mixing up comparisons in the second sentence. While all parts of the task are touched upon, the lack of a clear, accurate overview and limited generalisation keep this aspect at a partial level of fulfillment, demonstrating room for clearer selection and summarisation of trends.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure dividing the introduction, overview, and specific body details. Information is generally presented in a logical sequence following chronological order from 1863 to 2001. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or used inaccurately, such as transitions like 'Then', 'Regarding', and 'After that', which sound somewhat forced. Referencing is mostly functional, though paragraphing meets basic requirements adequately, showing part of the organizational control expected at higher bands while still relying on repetitive sequencing patterns.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying basic information about cities, dates, route lengths, and passenger numbers. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'railway systems', 'accounted for', and 'represented', but these attempts are occasionally marred by word choice and spelling errors, such as 'illutrates' and 'catogeries'. Other lexical slips, such as 'an increased in' instead of 'an increase in', reflect confusion over word forms. These errors do not seriously impede communication, but they highlight a limited range that remains minimally adequate for basic reporting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses ('which was the highest figure of the period') and participial phrases. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and sentence structure, such as 'kilometers of route covered by underground railway systems in London with 775 millions passengers', which lacks a main verb, and prepositional confusion like 'in millions' versus 'millions passengers'. Punctuation and article usage also show frequent lapses, though the meaning can generally still be deciphered by the reader despite the persistent grammatical strain.

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