Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The diagram illustrates the process and instruments used to produced the hydroelectric power station by river.
Overall, the process consisted several stages starting from the river water which transferred into the dam and ending with power grid.
In the Beginning, a dam located near to the river area where a high-level reservoir is placed. The bottom of the dam contained a sapce where the water flows but this wasjust open in day time and the flow stop at night by closing the space. The flow water slipped and reahed to the reversible turbines which can transferred the water forward and backward, direction of water backward during pumping through high level reservoir at night and move forward to low level reservoir at day time, while a generator was fixed on just upward to reversible turbines, was known as power station.
On the left of the Generator, powerlines was connected to supply power and near to this a national grid was fixed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, including the dam, reservoir, turbines, and power grid. However, the description is somewhat imprecise; for example, the explanation of the water flow mechanism is confusing and lacks technical clarity. While the main stages are identified, the relationship between the components (such as the generator and the turbines) is not clearly articulated. To improve, focus on describing the sequence of events more logically and ensure that the terminology used accurately reflects the diagram provided. The overview is present but could be more descriptive regarding the cyclical nature of the process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate, such as 'In the Beginning' and 'On the left of the Generator'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where the explanation of the water flow becomes difficult to follow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it hard to track which part of the diagram is being described. Improving the variety and precision of linking words would significantly enhance the flow of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'instruments used to produced' (should be 'produce') and 'sapce' (spelling error). The term 'slipped' is not the most appropriate word to describe the movement of water through a dam. While the student attempts to use technical terms like 'reversible turbines' and 'reservoir', the overall control is limited, and some expressions are repetitive or imprecise, which occasionally hinders the clarity of the technical description.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. Examples include 'the process consisted several stages' (missing preposition 'of'), 'the flow stop at night' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'powerlines was connected' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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