Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-03

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 5.0)

The diagram below demonstrate the information of various stages are required to innovate electricity at hydroelectric power station.

Overall, it is noticeable that the process of generating electricity is followed by multiple stages which start from river and end with lower level reservoir.

Firstly, the diagram illustrates that near the river which attached with high level reservoir a huge dam builded.It helps to intake water in day open and in night closed.The water supplied by middle layer where in morning water are flowing to generate electricity and night its plumping towards river.

Moreover, a huge mechanism made for reversible turbines in day it operates generator and night pump water back to the high level reservoir.The generator fitted at top of the power station which realised electricity by power lines to the national grid.and At the end, in day time water mixed with lower level reservoir and in night it helps to push back in the high level reservoir.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the hydroelectric process but fails to clearly identify the main features. The description of the mechanism is confusing, particularly the explanation of the day/night cycle, which is not accurately reflected in the diagram. The term 'innovate electricity' is incorrect, and the description of the water flow is imprecise. While the response covers the general stages, the lack of clarity and the inclusion of inaccurate information regarding the 'day/night' cycle (which is not explicitly stated in the diagram) prevent a higher score. The overview is present but lacks the necessary detail to fully capture the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing and unclear transitions. While some cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'Moreover' are used, they do not always connect ideas effectively. The referencing is sometimes confusing, such as the mention of 'middle layer' and 'day open', which makes the progression of the process difficult to follow. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs is weak, leading to a disjointed reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There are significant word-choice errors, such as 'innovate electricity' instead of 'generate electricity', 'builded' (a non-standard form of 'built'), and 'realised' instead of 'released'. The student struggles to use technical terms appropriately, relying on basic descriptions that do not demonstrate the range required for a higher band. The repetition of simple structures and the misuse of terminology significantly impact the clarity of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('diagram demonstrate', 'water are flowing'), incorrect verb forms ('builded', 'fitted'), and missing articles. Sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and incorrect capitalization. These persistent errors in basic grammar and syntax indicate a lack of control over complex structures.

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

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