Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The illustration elaborates electricity generation through a hydroelectric power station, by the flow of water from higher to the lower altitudes via turbines.

A hydroelectric power station primarily comprises of water from a natural resource such as a river, stored in high level reservoir called dam and a power station where the electricity is primarily generated through reversible turbines and generators.

Water flowing from river is collected in a dam. During the day, flow of water from higher levels to lower creates enough kinetic energy to run the turbines which in turn stimulate the generators and where the electricity is generated and passed through power lines towards the national grid.

At night, when the flow of water is not enough to generate electricity, the reversible turbines in the power station help to pump the water back from the lower level reservoir to the dams. This helps in keeping the water levels sufficient for the electricity generation during the day.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, including the generation phase and the pumping phase. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear overview or summary statement that synthesizes the process as a whole. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the 'reversible' nature of the process could be more precise. The response addresses the prompt adequately but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band, as it focuses more on listing steps than highlighting the cyclical nature of the system effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear distinction between the daytime generation phase and the nighttime pumping phase. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'during the day' and 'at night', which help guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the connection between the sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for the task, and the progression of information is generally easy to follow, though the overall structure could benefit from a more cohesive introduction and a concluding summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using technical terms like 'kinetic energy', 'reversible turbines', and 'national grid'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'comprises of' (which should be 'comprises' or 'is composed of') and 'stimulate the generators' (where 'power' or 'drive' would be more accurate). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the sophistication and precision that would elevate it to a higher band 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 errors, such as 'comprises of water' and 'from higher to the lower altitudes' (the article 'the' is unnecessary here). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'where the electricity is generated and passed through'. The control of grammar is generally good, and errors do not impede communication, but the frequency of these minor slips prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.