Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The diagram illustrates the process of the generation of the electricity in the hydroelectric power station.
The diagram shows that the process starts from the river from where water flows in the dam. Dam is high-level reservoir that creates the potential energy in the water, eventually that would be converted to the electrical energy by using this hydroelectric power station technique.
In the day time, dam intake opens to flow water to the turbine, whereas in night dam intake closes because the water is pumped again into the high-level reservoir.
When the intake is open water flows in the turbine, consequently turbine rotates and generator produces the electricity this way.
Electricity produced in this process is then transmitted to the National grid through power lines.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the diagram, such as the water flow, the turbine, and the generator. However, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the response. Because the text is only 125 words, the description remains somewhat superficial. To improve, you should expand on the details of the process, such as the specific components involved (e.g., the power lines or the transformer) and ensure a more comprehensive overview of the cycle. The failure to meet the length requirement is a primary constraint on the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically sequenced, following the process from the river to the national grid. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the text is presented in a single block, which hinders readability. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'consequently' and 'whereas', the flow is somewhat mechanical. To reach a higher band, you should use clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction from the process description and ensure a wider variety of linking words to connect the stages of the cycle more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'potential energy', 'reservoir', and 'transmitted'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'generation of the electricity' (the 'the' is unnecessary) and 'in the day time' (should be 'during the day'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, incorporate more precise technical terminology related to hydroelectric processes and avoid repetitive sentence structures that rely on simple word choices.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'Dam is high-level reservoir' lacks the necessary articles ('A dam is a high-level reservoir'). There are also issues with preposition usage and article omission throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on mastering the use of articles and ensuring subject-verb agreement to improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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