Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-09

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 6.5)

Given diagram represents the process of generating electricity in a hydroelectric power station. During the day water flow from the high level reservoir is used to produce electricity. While, at night time water from the low level reservoir is pumped back to the dam.

River water is collected in the dam which are created at high-level as compared to the turbines at power station. The water intake is open during the day and water flows towards the reversible turbine. Turbines rotate due to the flow of water and produce mechanical energy. A powerful generator converts the mechanical energy from turbines to electrical energy and provide electricity to power lines which supply power to the national grid.

Water flowing through the turbines is stored in a low-level reservoir during the day. At night, water intake of the dam is closed and reversible turbines pump water back to the high level reservoir. In this way a hydroelectric power station generates electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key stages of the hydroelectric process, including the day-time generation and night-time pumping cycle. The main features are clearly identified, and the comparison between the two phases is well-integrated. However, the overview is slightly thin; it would be improved by explicitly mentioning that the process is a cyclical, self-sustaining system. The description of the components is accurate, and the logical flow follows the diagram effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the cyclical nature of the process more prominently in the introduction.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from the introduction to the day-time process and finally the night-time cycle. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate these distinct stages. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'In this way', and 'During the day' are used effectively to link ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better emphasize the contrast between the two operational modes. Overall, the information is easy to follow and the structure is coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for a technical description, using terms like 'mechanical energy', 'reversible turbine', and 'high-level reservoir'. There is an attempt to use precise terminology, which is good. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'dam which are created' (should be 'is created') and 'provide electricity' (should be 'provides' to match the subject 'generator'). While the range is sufficient for the task, incorporating more varied synonyms for 'water flow' or 'generate' would elevate the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as subject-verb agreement errors ('dam which are created' instead of 'is created') and missing articles ('at high-level' instead of 'at a high level'). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the communication remains clear throughout. The use of passive voice is appropriate for a process description. To improve, focus on proofreading for small errors in articles and verb agreement to ensure a higher level of accuracy.

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

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