Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-13

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 4.5)

The data table provides information about the underground railway system in six cities from different countries.

Overall, the survey selected six cities, featuring London, along with Paris, Tokyo, Washington, Kyoto, and Los Angeles. One of the oldest underground railway systems is in London, inaugurated in 1863. It serves around 775 million passengers per year and spans a total route length of 394 kilometers. The sexond largest raleay network is in paris as it nm

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the table’s subject and gives a relevant overview of London, including its opening date, annual passenger total and route length. However, it reports almost none of the information for the other five cities, and the final sentence breaks off before making a comparison. As a result, the main features and contrasts—such as Tokyo’s highest passenger figure and Kyoto’s shortest route—are not summarised. The required minimum length is not met, which contributes to the very limited coverage. To improve, complete the comparison of all six systems and select the most notable highs and lows rather than focusing mainly on London.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic sense of organisation: an introductory sentence is followed by an overview paragraph, and the response moves from the general topic to details about London. The opening phrase “Overall” signals a summary, but the paragraph then gives a single city’s figures rather than a clear overview of the table as a whole. The unfinished ending (“as it nm”) interrupts progression and leaves the comparison incomplete. With so little developed content, links between ideas are limited. Use a clear sequence—for example, an overview of the oldest/largest systems, followed by comparisons of passenger numbers and the newer, smaller networks—and ensure every sentence is complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some appropriate task vocabulary, including “underground railway system,” “passengers per year,” “route length,” and “inaugurated.” These terms show awareness of how to describe the table. However, the range is limited, and several noticeable spelling or word-choice errors reduce clarity: “sexond,” “raleay,” and “paris” appear in the final sentence, while “survey selected six cities” is an awkward way to describe the data. The unfinished phrase also prevents the intended comparison from being understood. Aim for accurate, varied terms such as “network,” “annual ridership,” and “the longest route,” and proofread spelling and capitalization carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response includes mostly straightforward sentence forms, with a simple opening statement and a longer sentence combining the opening date, passenger figure and route length. The sentence “It serves around 775 million passengers per year and spans a total route length of 394 kilometers” is grammatically controlled. However, the range is narrow, and the final sentence is incomplete, so it does not form a complete grammatical comparison. The overview also shifts into details about London without developing a broader comparison. Practise complete comparative structures, such as “Although London has the longest route, Tokyo carries the most passengers,” and check that each sentence has a finished clause and appropriate punctuation.

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