Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-05

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 the process of electricity generation in a hydroelectric power station.

At the first stage of the process, Water from the river is stored in a high-level reservoir behind a dam. During the day, the intake is open, and water flows down through a channel to the power station. As the water passes through reversible turbines, it drives the generator to produce electricity, which is then transmitted to the national grid via power lines. The used water then enters a low-level reservoir.

In the following stage of the process, At night, when electricity demand in lower, the intake is closed. The reversible turbines switch function and act as pumps. They take water from the low-level reservoir and pump it back up to the high-level reservoir, ready for the next day electricity generation.

Overall, this system effectively utilizes the gravitational potential energy of water to generate electricity, and the reversible turbines paly a crucial role in both electricity production during the day and water recycling at night, making it a sustainable and efficient power-generation method.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response effectively covers all stages of the hydroelectric process, from the high-level reservoir to the power generation and the recycling phase at night. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview of the cycle. The inclusion of the 'day' and 'night' distinction is a key feature that you have highlighted well. To reach a higher band, ensure that you avoid adding personal commentary or evaluation, such as describing the system as 'sustainable' or 'efficient' in the conclusion, as Task 1 requires an objective summary of the provided information rather than an opinion or analysis of the technology's merits.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from the initial stage to the final recycling phase. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two main operational modes (day and night). You use cohesive devices such as 'At the first stage', 'In the following stage', and 'Overall' to guide the reader through the process. However, there are minor issues with punctuation and capitalization, such as the unnecessary capitalization of 'Water' in the second paragraph and the awkward phrasing 'In the following stage of the process, At night', which disrupts the flow slightly. Improving the precision of these transitions would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a technical description, such as 'gravitational potential energy', 'reversible turbines', and 'national grid'. These terms demonstrate a solid understanding of the topic. There are a few minor errors, such as the typo 'paly' instead of 'play' and the slightly awkward phrasing 'next day electricity generation'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the process clearly, incorporating more varied synonyms for 'process' or 'stage' and ensuring perfect spelling would help elevate the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used passive voice appropriately for a process description, such as 'water is stored' and 'electricity... is then transmitted'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'electricity demand in lower' (should be 'is lower') and the aforementioned capitalization errors. Despite these, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication. To improve, focus on proofreading for small subject-verb agreement errors and ensuring consistent punctuation after introductory phrases.

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

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