Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The diagram illustrates the process by which electricity is to create hydroelectric power.
Overall, this hydroelectric power station has about 5 stages where it begins with the river flowing towards a dam and ends with power lines passing to the grid. Reversible turbines and generator play a significant role.
Initially, the river passes towards a dam where the reservoir level is maximum. Water passes through the intake towards reversible turbines which begin in day and ends at night. Where water flows from dam to reversible turbines through an intake (in day time) and water will be pumped at night time. Reversible turbines is intermediate, where they convert water from pump water to high level reservoir.
Next, reversible turbines operate generator by converting pump water into high level reservoir towards Low level reservoir. Next, reversible turbines connect to Power station generator where energy is produced and directly supplied to national grid by power lines.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main stages of the hydroelectric process, such as the reservoir, turbines, and power lines. However, the description is somewhat confusing and lacks clarity in explaining the cyclical nature of the system. For instance, the explanation of the day/night cycle is repetitive and fails to clearly distinguish between the generation phase and the pumping phase. While the main features are mentioned, the lack of precision in describing the mechanical process means the information is not fully developed or accurately conveyed. To improve, focus on a more logical, step-by-step explanation of how the water movement relates to energy production.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is often disjointed. Transitions like 'Initially' and 'Next' are used, but the internal logic within paragraphs is weak. For example, the sentence 'Reversible turbines is intermediate, where they convert water from pump water to high level reservoir' is difficult to follow and lacks clear cohesion with the preceding information. The referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it hard for the reader to track the movement of water through the system. Improved use of cohesive devices and clearer sentence linking would enhance the overall structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a technical description. There is some repetition of terms like 'reversible turbines' and 'pump water'. Some word choices are awkward or inaccurate, such as 'electricity is to create hydroelectric power' (which is grammatically and logically imprecise) and 'pump water into high level reservoir'. To achieve a higher band, you should use more precise terminology related to energy generation and ensure that collocations are natural. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns would also be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('Reversible turbines is intermediate') and awkward phrasing ('where they convert water from pump water to high level reservoir'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure often feels fragmented. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with correct prepositional and clausal links. Reducing these persistent errors will significantly improve the readability of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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