Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the generation of electricity in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the process starts with the accumulation of water in a dam. From dam, water flows towards a generator which produces electricity and the process ends with distribution of electricity to a power grid.

To being with, dam, a high-level reservoir, is filled with water from a river. During day, the dam is opened to allow water to fall onto reversible turbines which are connected with a generator. The movement of turbines produces the electricity. During night, there is no movement of river water towards the turbines because the same turbines pump the water back to reservoir. The whole area of turbines and generator is called power station.

Moreover, there is also a low-level reservoir located after the power station which collects the outward flow of water exiting from turbine during day, while in night, the water flows back to turbines due to overflow. Finally, the generator transfers the electricity to a national grid by using the power lines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power generation process, including the cyclical nature of the water flow between the high-level and low-level reservoirs. You successfully identified the key stages: accumulation, generation, and distribution. However, the description of the process is slightly hampered by minor inaccuracies, such as the claim that the dam is opened 'during day' and the turbines pump water back 'during night', which is a reasonable interpretation but could be more precisely linked to the diagram's labels. To reach a higher band, ensure that all technical components (like the intake and the specific flow direction) are described with greater clarity and precision.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the initial accumulation of water to the generation and distribution phases. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'Finally' to link your ideas. However, the use of referencing is occasionally mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'From dam' (missing an article) and 'the same turbines'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'reservoir', 'reversible turbines', and 'national grid'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'To being with' (a grammatical error affecting lexical precision) and 'outward flow of water'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles (e.g., 'From dam', 'to reservoir', 'to turbines') and prepositions. Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'To being with' instead of 'To begin with'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on the correct use of articles with singular countable nouns and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout your writing.

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

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