Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-11
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 diagram articulates the process of generating electricity through a hydroelectric power station. This essay attempts to provide a brief overview of the process based on the pictorial representation.
The hydroelectric power station is charecterised by the efficient utilisation of water to make energy. The first eservoir acts as the main source of water, which provides the energy to spin the turbines at the power station during day time. The power lines installed to the generator connected to national grid helps to supply electricity. The collected water, then pumped to the high level reservoir during night to help the process of reutilisation of the natural resource.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While the student identifies the main process of electricity generation, the description is overly brief and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary. Key components of the diagram, such as the intake, the specific flow of water, and the role of the turbine and generator, are mentioned but not described with sufficient clarity or depth. To improve, the student must expand on the sequence of events and provide a more detailed overview of the entire system.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into two short paragraphs, which is insufficient for a clear, logical progression of ideas. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the process using words like 'first' and 'then', the overall structure feels disjointed due to the lack of development. The transition between the day-time generation and the night-time pumping process is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, the student should use a wider range of cohesive devices to link sentences and ensure that the information flows logically from one stage of the process to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite limited and repetitive. There are some spelling errors, such as 'charecterised' and 'eservoir', which detract from the quality of the writing. The range of vocabulary is not sufficient to demonstrate flexibility or precision. To improve, the student should incorporate more specific technical terminology related to hydroelectric power and ensure accurate spelling. Using a broader range of synonyms and more precise collocations would help to elevate the lexical quality of the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are noticeable grammatical errors that affect clarity. For example, 'The power lines installed to the generator connected to national grid helps' is grammatically awkward and lacks necessary articles. Additionally, there are issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction, correct article usage, and subject-verb agreement will be essential for future improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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