Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The report diagram improve how it creates a hydroelectric power station in it, there is an information will be showing how it will be relevant.

On the left side on the report diagram it shows where the river starts reach the highest level reservoir, it shows that when the dam opens during the day, the flow of water to generate electricity falls down into power station, while at night the flow of water starts to pumping.

Overall, power station have power lines witch is national grid, during day reversible turbines starts to push into the right side of the power, while at night it goes into the left side.

here it show it reach into the lowest level of the reservoir. the generator is the most important thing of it all, the flow prosses can not reach from the highest to the lowest level until it goes throw it, this prosses is so important.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe the process but fails to provide a clear, accurate summary of the diagram. The description of the hydroelectric process is confusing and contains factual inaccuracies, such as stating that water is pumped at night to generate electricity, rather than explaining the reversible nature of the turbines for energy storage. The overview is weak and does not clearly highlight the main features of the process. While the response identifies some components like the reservoir and generator, the explanation of how they function together is underdeveloped and lacks the clarity required for an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5

The response is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is frequently interrupted by unclear phrasing and poor sentence structure. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical and often incorrect way, such as the repetitive use of 'it shows' and 'while at night'. The referencing is often ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of the process. The transition between the description of the day and night cycles is disjointed, which hinders the overall flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There are frequent errors in word choice, such as 'report diagram' instead of 'diagram' or 'process', and 'witch' instead of 'which'. The student struggles to use technical terminology correctly, for example, 'flow prosses' (process) and 'push into the right side of the power'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the technical nature of the diagram, and spelling errors like 'prosses' and 'throw' (through) are frequent, which occasionally impedes the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response relies on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences are consistently marred by grammatical errors. There are significant issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'power station have'), incorrect verb tenses, and missing articles. Punctuation is also problematic, with run-on sentences and misused commas. The frequent grammatical errors often obscure the intended meaning, making the text difficult to read. The control of basic grammar is weak, and there is no evidence of a range of complex structures.

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