Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-07
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 illustrate the generation of electricity using water as it's source.
Hydroelectric plants are one of the few major source of energy that also comes under the category of green energy. Hence carbon emissions and waste production from such is very less compared to other sources like coal.
The diagram above shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric plant. The river naturally fills the dam which also acts as the high level reservoir and stores the potential energy from the water. Then the water is released converting the potential energy to kinetic energy. Via pipes the water is transferred to the generator which rotates due the energy carrier by the water, producing electric energy. Then the energy generated is transmitted to nation using power grids and wires. And the water is then transferred to a low level reservoir. This operation occurs during daytime.
During the nighttime the water from low level reservoir is transferred to the high level reservoir using the same pipelines as before, hence the water is reused reducing the amount of water used.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the task by describing the process of electricity generation. However, the first two paragraphs contain irrelevant information regarding the environmental benefits of hydroelectric power, which is not shown in the diagram. This detracts from the focus on the process itself. While the main stages are identified, the description of the cycle is somewhat simplistic. To improve, ensure that every sentence directly relates to the visual information provided in the prompt, avoiding external knowledge or personal commentary about 'green energy' or 'carbon emissions'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. There is a logical progression from the daytime generation process to the nighttime water recycling process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'Then' to start sentences. Additionally, the transition between the introductory commentary and the process description is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring a smoother flow between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the mechanical process. Terms like 'potential energy', 'kinetic energy', and 'power grids' are used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the energy carrier by the water' (should be 'carried') and 'very less' (should be 'much lower'). The range is somewhat limited, and the inclusion of non-relevant vocabulary regarding environmental impact does not demonstrate the level of precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('The diagram illustrate' instead of 'illustrates') and incorrect article usage ('one of the few major source' instead of 'sources'). Some phrasing is awkward, such as 'from such is very less'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralisation would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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