Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-08
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 provides information about how electricity is generated through a hydroelectric power station.
Overall, the whole procedure passes through a series of various levels. River water is stored in a high level reservoir it then go through dam and enters generator with a turbine and the electricity is produced.
Initially, high level reservoir stores large quantity of water secondly, a dam is there which is opened at daytime and closed at night. When the intake left up the water goes down to make electricity. While, on the other hand, pumped back at night to store water again.
When the water reaches into generator there is an irreversible process, turbine make electricity at day time and at night sent it back to high quantity reservoir. Some of the water goes to low level reservoir where making electricity is not possible then it is pulled back at night. When the turbines revolves it makes electricity which is then supplied to power lines and national grid that can be consumed in various places like factories, homes and so on.
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 covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process. However, the description is somewhat inaccurate in places, such as the claim that the dam is opened only at daytime and closed at night, which is not supported by the diagram. The explanation of the water cycle between the high and low reservoirs is also slightly confusing. While the main stages are identified, the lack of precision in describing the mechanical process (e.g., the role of the turbine and generator) limits the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure that the information provided strictly reflects the visual data provided in the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as the use of 'secondly' and 'while, on the other hand' in the second and third paragraphs. The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, making the progression of the process feel disjointed. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to 'the intake' or 'the generator'. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would help the flow of the response significantly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'water', 'electricity', and 'reservoir'. Phrases such as 'high quantity reservoir' and 'make electricity' are somewhat simplistic and not entirely natural in a technical context. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'intake left up' and 'turbine revolves', which slightly impede the professional tone of the report. Expanding your range to include more precise technical terminology would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'turbine make electricity'), missing articles (e.g., 'in high level reservoir'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'where making electricity is not possible then it is pulled back'). While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring correct verb forms would help improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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