Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Here the given diagram illustrates process of how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.
Overall, electricity generation is a multi stage process, starting with water intake and ending with transfer of electricity via power lines. In addition the water is pumped backwards to reservoir again at night.
To commence with, first water is stored in high-level reservoir via river where a dam gate keep the water flow for further use. Which after the dam is opened at day when the water flow towards power station. Furthermore, this water spins the turbine blades where the electricity produces and water is stored in low-level reservoir. Following this, the generated electricity is conducted to National grid with the help of power lines
Lastly , at night the water from low-level reservoir flows at reverse thorough the turbines which pump water into high-level reservoir where dam allows water to be store in high-level reservoir for further use.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power generation process, including the day and night cycles. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the relationship between the components. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the mechanism (e.g., how the turbine actually generates electricity) is slightly underdeveloped. The summary of the process is accurate, but it could be improved by better highlighting the cyclical nature of the system as a key feature rather than just listing the steps. Overall, it addresses the requirements of the task sufficiently.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Furthermore', and 'Lastly' provides a basic structure. However, some transitions are slightly awkward or misused, such as 'Which after the dam is opened', which creates a sentence fragment. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for a process description, but the internal cohesion within the paragraphs could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using technical terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'reservoir', 'turbine blades', and 'National grid'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'flows at reverse' instead of 'flows in reverse' and 'dam gate keep the water flow' instead of 'regulates the water flow'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Some errors, such as 'thorough' instead of 'through', are noticeable.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('dam gate keep' instead of 'keeps', 'electricity produces' instead of 'is produced') and incorrect preposition usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the placement of commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex structures. A greater focus on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors would improve the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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