Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-15

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 illustration represents power generation in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, it demonstrates the use of water to rotate the generator which is responsible for generating power for national usage.

A dam is built in the passage of the river with a narrow opening called intake, through which water flows to power station where a small turbine rotates to produce electricity in the generator which is transferred to power lines connected with national grid.

On the other hand, the water which has been used for turning the generator on, is collected in a low-level reservoir during the daytime. In the night hours, the flow is reversed. The same turbine which is used to produce electricity is now rotates to pump that water from low-level reservoir to high-level reservoir through the same passage from which it has flowed during daytime. Since during night time, the intake is closed, the water stays in the pipe between high-level reservoir and turbine.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, including the daytime generation and the nighttime reversal cycle. The overview is clear and identifies the core function of the system. However, the description of the process is slightly rushed, and some technical details, such as the specific role of the 'dam' versus the 'intake' and the 'high-level' vs 'low-level' reservoirs, could be more precisely articulated to ensure the reader fully understands the mechanics. The response is accurate but lacks a slightly more detailed breakdown of the stages to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving from a general overview to the daytime process and then the nighttime reversal. Paragraphing is present, though the transition between the daytime and nighttime phases could be smoother. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Since during night time', which help guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and the connection between sentences could be improved to create a more seamless narrative of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, using terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'intake', 'turbine', and 'reservoir'. There is an attempt to use specific terminology, which is good. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'national usage' instead of 'national grid' or 'power consumption', and 'is now rotates' which is a grammatical error affecting lexical precision. Expanding the range of descriptive verbs and nouns would help elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are several grammatical slips that hinder the flow. For example, 'is now rotates' should be 'now rotates', and 'from which it has flowed' is slightly awkward. Additionally, there are missing articles in places, such as 'in the passage of the river' (should be 'in the path of the river') and 'to power station' (should be 'to the power station'). These errors are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score.

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

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