Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-13

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 diagram demonstrates that how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station

The hydrostatic power station shows that electricity is generated through water pressure

In the diagram it is shown that the river water is entering into a dam the water is flowing through a dam and electricity is generated through water pressure then water is stored into reversible turbines in day time it operates generator and in night time the water is pumped into high level reservoir and then it is sent to the generator, The water is stored in the low level reservoir, In night the water again flows back to the river the intake of water is opened at day and is closed at night, This process repeats many times and the electricity is generated,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the student identifies the main process of electricity generation, the description is repetitive and lacks a clear overview or a structured summary of the stages. The explanation of the cycle between the high-level and low-level reservoirs is somewhat confusing and lacks the precision required for a technical process description. To improve, the student should ensure all parts of the diagram are clearly described in a logical sequence and provide a concise summary of the overall process in the introduction.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks paragraphing, appearing as a single block of text. The flow of ideas is hindered by the lack of cohesive devices; the text relies heavily on comma splices and simple conjunctions like 'and' to connect ideas, rather than using transition words to signal the stages of the process. The progression of the description is mechanical and repetitive, making it difficult for the reader to follow the cycle of the hydroelectric system. To improve, the student should use clear paragraph breaks for the introduction and the process stages, and incorporate linking words such as 'subsequently', 'meanwhile', or 'consequently'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic terms like 'generated', 'water', and 'dam'. There is little attempt to use precise technical terminology related to hydroelectric power, such as 'intake', 'penstock', 'turbine', or 'generator' in a sophisticated way. Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'hydrostatic power station' instead of 'hydroelectric power station'. To reach a higher band, the student should expand their range of vocabulary to include more specific process-related terms and avoid repeating the same words throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response is characterized by frequent grammatical errors, particularly in sentence structure. There is a heavy reliance on comma splices, where independent clauses are joined only by commas (e.g., '...sent to the generator, The water is stored...'). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. The sentence structures are predominantly simple or poorly connected, with very few attempts at complex sentences. To improve, the student must focus on basic sentence punctuation, specifically avoiding comma splices, and work on using a wider variety of complex sentence structures to describe the process.

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

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