Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-22
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 shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.
Overall, to generate electricity the flow of water is opposite to each other in day and night time. In day time, water moves from dam to power station (high-level reservoir to low-level reservoir) but during night, flow of water reversed from low level reservoir to high-level reservoir.
During day time, water comes from river, which is high-level reservoir and enter into dam. For intake of water, gates of dam are opened at day time while closed during night. Water than flow towards Power Station in order to generate electricity. After entering into power station, electric current is generated through reversible turbines and current is then stored in a generator from where, it transfer to National grid through Power lines and water is passed towards low-level reservoir.
When night occurs, reversible turbines moves the water back from low-level reservoir to high level reservoir.
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 successfully identifies the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, specifically the day and night cycles. You have clearly highlighted the reversal of water flow, which is the key comparison required by the prompt. However, the description of the process is slightly inaccurate in places; for example, you mention water coming from a 'river' and entering a 'dam', whereas the diagram illustrates a high-level reservoir. Additionally, the explanation of the power generation process is a bit simplistic. To reach a higher band, ensure that all labels and stages are described with greater precision and that the relationship between the components is clearly articulated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph describing the process. The use of transition signals like 'During day time', 'After entering', and 'When night occurs' helps guide the reader through the sequence of events. However, the paragraphing is somewhat unbalanced, as the second paragraph is quite dense. Furthermore, some cohesive devices are used mechanically, and the referencing could be smoother. Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words would enhance the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have used some relevant technical vocabulary such as 'hydroelectric power station', 'reversible turbines', and 'National grid'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'flow of water reversed' (should be 'is reversed') and 'it transfer to' (should be 'it is transferred to'). The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe the mechanical processes shown in the diagram, such as 'pumping', 'generating', or 'facilitating'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'water moves from dam to power station' lacks appropriate articles ('the dam', 'the power station'). There are also issues with verb tense and voice, such as 'current is then stored... from where, it transfer to' (should be 'it is transferred'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the process. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring subject-verb agreement would improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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