Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-10

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 5.0)

The given process gives us information about how the electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station. It consists of five significant steps. It commence with river water into the dam and culminates with power station generator.

A cursory glance at the diagram is adequate enough to reveal that the first step of electricity generation is river water collected in the dam and then dam intake water in day and closes in night. Moreover, river flows water to generate electricity in the day and flow of water during pumping in night into high level reservoir.

Further looking at the chart it can be clearly seen that in power station generator reversible turbines operate generator in day. Apart from this, in the last step electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

After analysing the chart, all the process shows line by line steps and if a step misses then whole process will be ruined.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process but fails to provide a clear, accurate summary of the hydroelectric power generation cycle. The description of the stages is confusing and lacks technical precision, particularly regarding the distinction between the day and night cycles. Key features, such as the high-level reservoir, the power station, and the reversible turbines, are mentioned but not clearly explained in terms of their function or relationship. The overview is weak and does not effectively highlight the main trends or the cyclical nature of the process. Consequently, the information is not fully developed, and the reader is left with an unclear understanding of how the system operates.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression of ideas is disjointed. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'Moreover', 'Apart from this'), they are often used mechanically or inappropriately, failing to create a smooth flow between sentences. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult to follow the sequence of the process. The final paragraph is redundant and does not contribute to the summary of the diagram. Overall, the organisation is present but lacks the logical structure required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There is a reliance on basic phrasing, such as 'gives us information' and 'line by line steps'. Some word choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as 'dam intake water in day and closes in night' and 'river flows water'. There is little evidence of the technical vocabulary required to describe a mechanical process effectively. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precision and the repetitive nature of the language restrict the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'It commence'), missing articles (e.g., 'in day'), and awkward phrasing that impacts readability. While the errors do not completely prevent the reader from understanding the general topic, they are persistent and occur in both simple and more complex attempts at sentence construction. A greater focus on basic grammatical accuracy and sentence structure is needed.

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

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