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 illustrate that how electricity is produced with the help of hydroelectric power hub. Its seems that the water enters into the dam a heavy flow of water pass through the generator and create electricity.

Initially, if we see the diagram the river is stoped by the dam it is a kind of barrier which stored the water. there are two ways of the flow of water in day time the flow of water is released and it goes to the generator the turbines moved with the help of heavy flow of water and it generate the electricity.The generated electricty goes to the power lines with the help of generator after that it goes in national grids. Moreover, the day time water move farward and there is a reservoir with small capacity.However, at the time of night all things worked reversly, the water from small reservoir move upward the turbines pump water into a reservoir of high capacity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric process, including the day and night cycles. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the mechanism is slightly imprecise, such as the description of the 'small capacity' reservoir. To improve, ensure you provide a clear introductory overview that highlights the cyclical nature of the system and use more precise terminology to describe the components shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is divided into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the logical progression is hindered by repetitive phrasing and a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices. Transitions like 'Initially' and 'Moreover' are used, but the connection between sentences is often mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to the reservoirs. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence flows naturally into the next without relying on simple additive connectors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There is some repetition of words like 'water', 'flow', and 'reservoir'. While the student attempts to describe technical aspects, the word choices are often imprecise, such as 'power hub' instead of 'power station' or 'stoped' (spelling error). To improve, incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to engineering or energy production, such as 'intake', 'turbine rotation', 'pumped-storage', and 'transmission'. Spelling accuracy also needs attention to avoid distracting the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the turbines moved', 'all things worked reversly') and awkward phrasing ('The diagram illustrate that how'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and missing spaces after periods. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with correct tense consistency, particularly when describing a recurring process.

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

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