Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-31

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 illustration presents the steps of electricity generation in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, electricity production involves water flowing from the river reaching out to the power station and electricity generation takes place during day time.

The procedure starts from a water flow from river to a big dam where it can be controlled by a high level of reservoir. During the day time water will flow in the direction of the power station, where a generator will use it to convert into the power line that leads to the national grid. Throughout the day water flow will continue with the help of reversible turbines which operate generator.

Furthermore, during night time a low level reservoir will turn a water flow in the opposite direction where reversible turbines will pump water into a high level reservoir. Water will be saved at a dam where

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main features of the process, the description is incomplete as the text ends abruptly mid-sentence. The overview provided is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear summary of the cyclical nature of the process. To improve, ensure you complete the description of all stages shown in the diagram and provide a more comprehensive overview that captures the core mechanism of the hydroelectric system. Because the response is under-length and unfinished, it does not fully address all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the final sentence. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'During the day time' are used, but the flow is somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'where it can be controlled by a high level of reservoir,' which is grammatically awkward and confusing. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words to connect the stages of the process more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, completed logical structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'water flow' and 'high level reservoir.' There is an attempt to use technical terms like 'reversible turbines' and 'national grid,' which is good, but the overall range is limited. Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'reaching out to the power station' or 'convert into the power line.' To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise verbs and nouns related to mechanical processes, such as 'channelled,' 'facilitates,' or 'converts kinetic energy.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'electricity generation takes place during day time' (missing article) and 'convert into the power line' (incorrect preposition/verb usage). The sentence 'The procedure starts from a water flow from river to a big dam' is also missing necessary articles. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the clarity of the technical explanation. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve accuracy.

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