Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-24
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 illustrates the procedure of production of electricity in a hydroelectric power station.
The first step in this process is to reserve water coming from a river. For this a very big wall is created between two mountains which is known as dam.Then a gap is install under the wall of dam from where the water is transfer towards power station. The gap is open at day time and close at night.In next step the water from dam is flowed toward electric generator in day time.
After that the water hits the turbines in the generator which produces electricity by rotating. The water from turbine is moved into low level reservoir and electricity is transfer through the power lines toward national grid.This process take place at day time while at night the turbines pump water back to high level reservoir from low level reservoir.Which then use to produce more electricity in daytime.
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 stages of the hydroelectric process, including the dam, the turbine, and the cycle between reservoirs. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. While the key features are identified, the explanation of the cycle (pumping water back at night) is slightly rushed and could be more clearly integrated into the overall description of the system. The response meets the requirements of the task but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a logical sequence, following the flow of the diagram. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the report is presented as one block of text, which hinders readability. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'The first step', 'Then', and 'After that', but they are somewhat mechanical. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'Which then use' at the end, which lacks a clear subject. Improving the use of linking phrases and separating the introduction from the process description would improve the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'very big wall' and 'gap is install' are imprecise and lack the technical register expected in an Academic Task 1 report. There are also some word-choice errors, such as 'flowed toward' instead of 'directed towards' or 'channeled'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to engineering or mechanical processes, such as 'intake', 'conduit', or 'recirculated'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'gap is install' (should be 'installed'), 'electricity is transfer' (should be 'transferred'), and 'This process take place' (should be 'takes place'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and sentence fragments, such as 'Which then use to produce...'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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