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 diagrams illustrates the process of electricity generation in a hydroelecteic power station.

Overall, process of electricity consists of many steps, starts from river and bypassing the dam and the power station than generated power supply to national grid. Days and nights were allocated for different tasks.

Firstly, river was connected with the high-level reservoir where a larger vertical dam was exits, the water flow at the bottom of the dam open at day time and close in the night. In the day, water flows downward and reached the reversiable turbine in the power station and this turbine reverse the water during the pumping in the night.

However, during day the generator operates and pass the water to the low-level reservoir and in the night the direction of water is opposite towards the high-level reservoir. A rode was connected directly from the generator to the reversible turbine. Furthermore, the generator pass generated electricity to the national grid by using the power lines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station, including the cycle between the high-level and low-level reservoirs. However, the description is somewhat confusing, particularly the explanation of the turbine's function and the timing of the process. The student mentions 'days and nights were allocated for different tasks,' which is a slightly inaccurate interpretation of the diagram's cyclical nature. While the main features are identified, the lack of clarity in explaining the mechanism (e.g., how the turbine and generator interact) prevents a higher score. The summary is present, but the logical flow of the process is not fully developed or clearly articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes misused, such as 'However, during day' and 'Furthermore, the generator pass'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of the process. While there is an attempt to structure the report, the lack of smooth transitions between the stages of the hydroelectric process limits the coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several spelling errors, such as 'hydroelecteic' and 'reversiable'. The student relies on basic terminology and struggles with collocations, such as 'a rode was connected' (likely meaning 'a rod' or 'shaft') and 'pass the water' (which is imprecise). While the meaning is generally conveyed, the limited range and recurring errors in word choice and spelling prevent a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('The diagrams illustrates', 'river was connected'), incorrect verb tenses ('starts from river', 'water flow... open'), and awkward sentence structures. While the student attempts to use complex sentences, these are often faulty or contain errors in word order. The control over basic grammar is inconsistent, and the frequent errors in tense and pluralisation are noticeable throughout the text.

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

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