Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The given diagram depicts the information on the production of electricity in a hydroelectric power station.Overall,during the day water stored in the high-level reservoir flows to generate electricity and at night through reverse turbines these water flow back during pumping.

It is evident from the chart that to generate hydroelectricity river water is stored by constructing a dam which is also termed as high level reservoir.Water flow occurs when the gate is open at day time.Eventually these water will flows to a reversible turbines.This has dual functions,at morning it operates as generator and night as remaining water is accumulated in low-level reservoir.

However the energy from the generator,supplies electricity to consumers through power lines to national grid from power station.Thus,electricity is generated.While,at night the excess water stored in low level reservoir is pumped back to high level reservoir with the help of reversible turbines.Hence,through this continuous process electricity is generated for individuals from hydro power station.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, including the day and night cycles. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in technical terminology. For instance, the explanation of the 'reversible turbine' is slightly confusing, and the distinction between the high-level and low-level reservoirs could be clearer. While the main stages are identified, the overview is a bit simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on synthesizing the information more effectively rather than just listing the steps, and ensure that the comparison between the day and night cycles is more clearly articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the use of 'Thus' and 'Hence' in close proximity. The transition between the day and night cycles is clear, but the logical flow within the second paragraph is slightly disjointed due to grammatical issues. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure could benefit from more sophisticated linking words to improve the flow between the different stages of the power generation process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'water flow' and 'generate electricity' repeatedly. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'these water will flows' (should be 'this water flows') and 'at morning' (should be 'in the morning'). To improve, try to incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to engineering or processes, such as 'intake', 'discharge', 'conversion', or 'cycle', and ensure correct collocations are used throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage. Examples include 'these water will flows' and 'at day time'. The sentence structures are mostly simple or compound, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas (e.g., 'generator,supplies'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve your score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.