Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-10

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 table provides data about the underground railway systems in six disticnt cities. Figures are mentioned in millions.

Overall, London seemed to be the highest in kilemeters of routes, while, passengers per year in Tokyo accounted for the largest figure in table. As comparison, Kyoto represented for the lowest figure in kilometers of route and also paasengers per year.

To start with London, opening date was 1863, where figure in kilmeters of route was 394 and 775 millions pasengers per year. After some year in Paris, number in kilometers of route stood at 199 and passengers were 1191 millions.

Similarly, in Tokyo 1927 and Washington Dc, figures in kilometers of route was 155 and 126 respectively. While, data in passengers per year was 1927, which was the highest number in the table given, and 144 millions. Likewise, in 1981 Kyoto was 11 in kilometers of route and 45 millions passengers per year. Figure in Los Angles in 2001 made at 28 kilometeres and 50 millions passengers per year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main contrasts accurately: London has the longest route (394 km), Tokyo carries the most passengers (1,927 million), and Kyoto has the lowest figures for both route length and annual passengers. The overview is relevant, and the response includes data for all six cities. However, some comparisons are only partly developed. For example, you report Paris’s and Washington’s figures but do not clearly compare their passenger totals or explain that Los Angeles, rather than Kyoto, has the second-shortest route. A clearer overview of the oldest and newest systems would also help. Select the most significant comparisons and state them explicitly, rather than mainly listing figures city by city.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs presenting the figures. Sequencing the cities by opening date gives the reader a basic route through the information, and words such as “Similarly” and “Likewise” attempt to connect details. However, progression is not consistently clear: the paragraph beginning “Similarly, in Tokyo 1927 and Washington DC” combines dates, route lengths, and passenger figures in a confusing order. Some linking words are also used mechanically or inaccurately, and the overview’s “while” construction is awkwardly punctuated. Grouping the systems by meaningful contrasts—for example, older and longer networks versus newer, smaller ones—and using clearer references would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant task vocabulary, including “underground railway systems,” “passengers per year,” and “figure,” so the topic remains understandable. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “disticnt,” “kilemeters,” “paasengers,” and “Angless” are examples. Some combinations are unnatural, such as “Kyoto represented for the lowest figure” and “figure … made at 28.” Use standard data-reporting collocations and vary “figure” with terms such as “total,” “route length,” and “annual passenger numbers.” More accurate spelling and more natural phrasing would make the comparisons clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and more complex comparisons, including “while” and “respectively,” but control is uneven. Several sentences have faulty structures: “opening date was 1863, where figure … was 394” uses an unsuitable relative clause, while “Similarly, in Tokyo 1927 and Washington Dc, figures … was” has unclear sentence construction and subject–verb disagreement. The fragment beginning “While, data in passengers per year…” also needs to be joined to a complete clause, and commas after “while” are generally unnecessary here. Aim for clear, complete sentences with a consistent pattern, such as naming the city, then reporting its opening year, route length, and passenger total. This will help you use comparisons without losing grammatical control.

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