Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-06
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 illustrates the process how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station by following the cyclic process.
Overall, initial step include the water by which electricity will be generate, two steps are involve in which flow of water produced in the day and flow of water pumping in the night.
Initially, in the production of electricity water from the river can be used. A dam can be build which is used for high level reservoir, this dam intake is closed in the night and open in the morning. Afterthat, flow of water generate the electricity in the day time and flow of water pumping during the night followed by during the day operate generator and pump water into high level reservoir. This step create the reversible turbines. In the last, power station involve the generator that built power lines and national grid. These steps produced the hydroelectricity.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the student attempts to describe the process, the explanation of the hydroelectric cycle is confusing and lacks clarity. The distinction between the day and night cycles is muddled, and the description of the mechanical components (turbines, generator, reservoir) is imprecise. Key features, such as the movement of water between the high and low reservoirs, are not clearly explained, leading to an incomplete summary of the process. To improve, the student should focus on clearly sequencing the stages and ensuring all technical aspects of the diagram are accurately represented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and often mechanical or inaccurate (e.g., 'Afterthat', 'In the last'). The referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of the process. For example, the sentence 'flow of water generate the electricity in the day time and flow of water pumping during the night followed by during the day operate generator' is repetitive and lacks logical flow. Improved use of linking words and better paragraph structure would significantly enhance the clarity of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'flow of water' and 'step'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and incorrect collocations, such as 'dam can be build' (should be 'built') and 'generator that built power lines'. The student struggles to use technical vocabulary appropriate for a process description, such as 'intake', 'turbine', or 'reservoir', in a natural or accurate way. To reach a higher band, the student needs to expand their range of vocabulary and focus on using words in their correct grammatical form and context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with verb tense and form, such as 'electricity will be generate' (should be 'generated') and 'two steps are involve' (should be 'involved'). Sentence structures are generally simple and often contain errors in word order or missing articles. The lack of control over basic grammar, combined with the absence of complex sentence structures, limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for process descriptions, would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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