Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-14

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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the main source for the hydroelectric power station comes from the river which helps the generator during the day and night to provide electricity to the national grid.

All of the water from the river will be stocked in a dam creating a high-level reservoir that would be of great use to the power station. During the day, the dam is opened so that the water flows to generate electricity to the reversible turbines and operate the generator. In the power station, the generator provides electricity to the power line which is connected to the National grid that will be used by the community.

The reversible generator at night pumps water into the high-level reservoir, and the flow of water during pumping is increased to the dam. At night time, there is no intake of water since the dam is closed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric process, including the day and night cycles. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the mechanical process. For instance, the explanation of the 'reversible' nature of the turbine and generator is slightly confusing, as the text suggests the generator itself pumps water, rather than the turbine acting as a pump. While the key stages are identified, the response would benefit from more precise technical detail regarding the conversion of energy and the specific components shown in the diagram to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, a general overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the day and night operations. The progression of ideas is clear, and the use of paragraphing is appropriate. Cohesive devices such as 'During the day', 'In the power station', and 'At night time' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, the transition between the day and night cycles could be smoother, and some referencing is slightly repetitive, which prevents the flow from being entirely natural or sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'reservoir', 'reversible turbines', and 'national grid'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs such as 'helps', 'stocked', and 'opened'. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to energy production, such as 'harnessing', 'facilitating', 'conveyed', or 'distribution'. The word choice is functional but lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are understandable, there are some grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'the main source for the hydroelectric power station comes from the river' is slightly awkward; 'the flow of water during pumping is increased to the dam' is unclear in its meaning. There are also minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they demonstrate a limited control over complex structures, keeping the score in the mid-range.

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

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