Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-25

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 5.0)

The given diagram shows that, how electricity is generated in hydroelectric power station.

First of all, the water coming through river is stored in Dam at the point of High-level reservoir. During the day time , water flows down toword's the reversible turbines . where as flow of water is upword during pumping at night after passing through turbines.

Then at the power station, generator start generating electricity . after that the electricity start,s passing through power lines. These power lines are directly conected with national grid .After reaching at grid , the electricity is distributed .

So, this was the whole process of production of electricity at power station through water.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the student identifies the main stages of the hydroelectric process, the description is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to fully report the main features. The summary is too brief, missing key comparative elements such as the distinction between day and night cycles in detail. Because the response is 38 words under the limit, it cannot be considered a fully developed report, leading to a lower band score for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into short, somewhat disjointed paragraphs. While there is a basic attempt at logical sequencing using transition words like 'First of all', 'Then', and 'After that', the flow is mechanical. The paragraphing is not used effectively to group related information, and the final sentence acts more as a concluding remark than a summary of the process. The lack of sufficient length prevents the development of a cohesive structure, making the progression of ideas feel abrupt and underdeveloped.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on the words provided in the prompt (e.g., 'electricity', 'generated', 'power station'). There are several spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'toword's' instead of 'towards', 'upword' instead of 'upward', and 'conected' instead of 'connected'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student struggles to use precise terminology to describe the technical components of the diagram. To improve, the student needs to incorporate more varied and accurate technical vocabulary related to energy production.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are issues with article usage ('in Dam', 'at the point of High-level reservoir'), subject-verb agreement ('generator start', 'electricity start,s'), and punctuation (unnecessary commas and apostrophes). The sentence structures are simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation indicates a lack of control over sentence construction.

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

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