Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The schematic diagram illustrates formation of electricity process during the day and night-time. A dam along a high level reservoir near the river is built to carry,store and flow water towards the power station where generators produce the electricity before transmitting it to national grids.It is to be noticed that during the daytime the water flows from high reservoir to low reservoir,while in the night-time it's vice versa.However, the water intake by dam is also closed at night to ensure safe and enough production of electricity as per requirement.This process of generating electricity takes place in the hydroelectric power station.During the daytime sufficient energy level of electricity is produced that leads to closure of water flow for the dam
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the student attempts to describe the process, the summary is underdeveloped and lacks sufficient detail regarding the stages of the hydroelectric cycle. Key features, such as the specific components (turbine, generator, transformer), are mentioned only in passing or omitted entirely. The description of the day/night cycle is somewhat inaccurate based on standard hydroelectric operations, and the overall explanation lacks the depth required for a Band 6 or higher. To improve, the student must provide a more comprehensive overview of the entire process shown in the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is written as a single paragraph, which lacks the logical structure expected in an academic report. While there is a basic attempt at sequencing, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'during the daytime' and 'at night'. The transition between sentences is abrupt, and the lack of clear paragraphing makes the text feel disjointed. To improve, the student should organize the information into clear sections: an introduction, a description of the main process, and a summary of the day/night cycle, using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band score. The student uses general terms like 'formation of electricity process' and 'water intake', which are not the most accurate technical collocations for this topic. There is some repetition of basic vocabulary, and the phrasing is occasionally awkward, such as 'sufficient energy level of electricity'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more topic-specific terminology related to engineering and power generation, such as 'hydroelectric power station', 'turbine', 'pumped-storage', and 'transmission'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. For instance, 'It is to be noticed that' is a clunky construction, and there are issues with article usage ('the dam', 'the power station') and missing spaces after punctuation marks. Some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'the water intake by dam is also closed'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from achieving a higher score. Focusing on sentence variety and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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