Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given diagram presents the stages involved in producing electricity in a hydroelectric power station.

In an Overview, The river water is kept reserved in dam Initially, then the water is flowed into the generator inorder to produce the electricity.

On the one hand, The dam is used to reverve the high-level water and it is flown to the reversible turbines in a day and in night these turbines pump water out of the low-level reservoir to the high-level reservoir such that the entire water flow from dam to the low-level reserve is flown in reverse order at night.

On the other hand, Inside the power station there are several stages, Firstly, Once the water is flown into the reversible turbines during the day then it is passed to generator and then it creates the electricity which is passed to power lines and then it is distributed to consumers through the national grid.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the hydroelectric process, including the day and night cycles. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, professional summary of the key features. While the main points are addressed, the explanation of the 'reversible' nature of the process is slightly confusing due to awkward phrasing. To improve, ensure that the overview clearly highlights the cyclical nature of the system rather than just listing steps. The response is sufficient in length but would benefit from a more analytical approach to the data presented in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetitive sentence structures and mechanical use of cohesive devices. Phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' are used incorrectly here, as they are typically reserved for contrasting two different opinions or arguments, rather than describing sequential stages of a process. The transition between the day and night cycles is also somewhat abrupt. Improving the use of linking words such as 'subsequently,' 'consequently,' or 'during the nocturnal phase' would help create a more professional and cohesive narrative.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate to convey the basic meaning, but it is quite limited and repetitive. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'reverve' (instead of 'reserve') and 'water is flown' (instead of 'water flows'). The use of 'inorder' as one word is a spelling error. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to hydroelectricity, such as 'intake,' 'penstock,' 'kinetic energy,' or 'power grid,' and avoid repeating basic verbs like 'passed' and 'flown' multiple times.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and tense consistency, such as 'water is flown' (passive voice misuse) and 'entire water flow... is flown' (incorrect verb choice). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary capitalization in the middle of sentences (e.g., 'In an Overview, The river...'). While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction and verb agreement prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering the passive voice for process descriptions.

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