Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The diagram illustrates how elecricity is generated in hyderoelectric power stationduring the day and how water is pumped back at night.

Overall, the process involves two reservoirs a dam, a power station and generator.The main featur is that water flows down from the high level reserviors during the day to produce electricity,while at night it is pumped back to upper reserviors for reuse.

During the day time, riverr water is collected in high level reserviors behind a dam.The intake is opened allowing water to flow down through large pipe towards the power station.As the water passes through turbinesit drives the generator which produce electricity.This is then transmitted through power lines to the national grid.After generating electricity the water flows in to low level reservoir.At night the process is reverse.The intake is closed and the water from the low level reservoir is pumped back to through the same pipe to the high level reservoir. This allows the water to be stored and reused for electricity generation the following day.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the main stages and gives a clear overview of the system’s two-way operation: water generates electricity as it moves from the high-level to the low-level reservoir by day, then returns uphill at night. It also accurately mentions the intake’s daytime opening and nighttime closure, the turbines and generator, and transmission to the national grid. This is a well-focused account with the key features selected and explained. To make the description more fully developed, clarify that the reversible turbines pump the water back at night and distinguish the water’s route through the station from the electricity’s route to the grid. The phrase “large pipe” is not specified in the diagram, so avoid adding unsupported detail.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information follows a sensible sequence, moving from an overview to the daytime process and then the nighttime cycle. Time markers such as “During the day time” and “At night” help readers follow the stages, and the contrast between the two operating modes is clear. The response therefore has a coherent overall arrangement. However, the first paragraph has run-together sentences (“reservoirs a dam” and “generator.The”), while the process paragraph is presented as one long block. Use clear paragraph breaks and consistent spacing after full stops. Some links between stages could also be more precise: for example, explicitly connect the turbines’ operation to the generator, then separately explain the water’s movement to the lower reservoir.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “intake,” “turbines,” “generator,” “power lines” and “national grid,” and terms such as “pumped back” communicate the cycle effectively. However, spelling errors are conspicuous, including “elecricity,” “hyderoelectric,” “featur” and “reserviors,” and several phrases are imprecise or awkward, such as “large pipe” and “the process is reverse.” These slips limit the accuracy and range of the vocabulary, even though the main meaning remains understandable. Aim to spell key technical terms carefully and use more exact process language, such as “conduit” or “channel” where appropriate, and “the process is reversed” to describe the nighttime operation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a range of sentence forms, including a relative clause (“allowing water to flow down…”) and a contrast between daytime and nighttime operations. The sequence is generally understandable, but grammatical control is uneven. Examples include missing articles in “in hydroelectric power station” and “through large pipe,” subject–verb disagreement in “the generator which produce electricity,” and the faulty construction “pumped back to through the same pipe.” There are also punctuation and spacing problems, such as “turbinesit” and “generator.The,” which make sentence boundaries less clear. Check articles, agreement and prepositions, and proofread punctuation. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve clarity and control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.