Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The diagram illustrates the production of the electricity by the hydroelectric process.
Overall, the diagram shows the generation of electricity in three parts: reservoir, flow of water in day and night, and reversible turbines.
Initially, the water is reserved in the dam, labeled as the high-level reservoir in the diagram. The reservoir has a gate at the bottom, which opened in the day in order to open the intake of water and closed the intake of water at night.
Got stored in the reservoir. Secondly, the flow of water is transferred to the power station to generate the electricity. This whole process is done in the day. While water was raised back to the reservoir at night.
Finally, in the day, the reversible turbines operate the generator from the energy gotten from the speed of water. The power lines are attached to the generator, which transfers the produced electricity. At night, the reversible turbines act as the pump to lift the water from the low-level reservoir to the high-level reservoir.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric process, including the distinction between day and night operations. However, the description is somewhat fragmented. For instance, the sentence 'Got stored in the reservoir' is a sentence fragment that lacks a subject, and the explanation of the cycle could be more integrated. While the key stages are identified, the relationship between the high-level and low-level reservoirs is not fully explained in a way that highlights the cyclical nature of the process clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure all sentences are complete and the flow of information is more logically connected to the visual data provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Got stored in the reservoir' is abrupt and grammatically disconnected from the previous paragraph. While there is a logical progression from the initial state to the day/night operations, the internal cohesion within paragraphs is weak. The use of linking words like 'Initially', 'Secondly', and 'Finally' is a good start, but more sophisticated referencing and smoother transitions between sentences would improve the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'hydroelectric process', 'reversible turbines', and 'high-level reservoir'. However, there are some awkward word choices, such as 'energy gotten from the speed of water' and 'opened the intake of water'. These phrases are slightly unnatural. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to technical processes, such as 'harnessing energy' or 'facilitating the flow'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's understanding, such as 'the production of the electricity' (unnecessary article), 'which opened in the day' (incorrect tense/voice), and 'closed the intake of water at night' (missing subject). The sentence 'Got stored in the reservoir' is a significant error as it is a fragment. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would be beneficial.
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