Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-26

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 7.0)

The diagram illustrates how the electricity is produced in a hydroelectric power station through a series of stages.

Overall, there are two main stages in the process. during daytime, water flows from the high -level reservoir to the low-level reservoir to generate electricity. At night, water is pumped back to the high -level reservoir so that the process can be repeated.

During the day, water is stored in the high-level reservoir behind the dam. The intake is opened, allowing the water to flow down through a pipe towards the reversible turbines. The force of the flowing water turns the turbines, which operate a generator in the power station. The electricity produced is then transmitted through power lines to the national grid. At the same time, the water flows into the low-level reservoir.

At night, the intake is closed and the turbines work in the opposite direction. They pump water from the low-level reservoir back up to the high-level reservoir. This means that the water can be stored again and used to generate electricity during the following day. Therefore, the same water is circulated between the two reservoir.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all stages of the hydroelectric power generation process. You have clearly identified the two main phases—daytime generation and nighttime pumping—and provided a logical summary of the mechanical steps involved. The overview is concise and accurately reflects the cyclical nature of the process. You have successfully highlighted the key features, such as the role of the reservoirs, the turbines, and the generator, without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail. To reach a higher band, ensure that you consistently maintain a formal tone and avoid minor inaccuracies in describing the technical components, though your current coverage is already quite comprehensive and well-structured for an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a well-defined overview, and distinct paragraphs for the two main phases of the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'During the day', 'At the same time', and 'At night' helps the reader follow the sequence of events easily. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different stages of the cycle. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a repetitive structure, but the current flow is already very coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a technical process description, such as 'reversible turbines', 'national grid', 'circulated', and 'high-level reservoir'. The terminology is accurate and fits the context well. There are no significant spelling errors, and your word choices are precise enough to convey the mechanical process clearly. To move into the higher bands, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or synonyms to describe the movement of water, such as 'conveyed' or 'facilitates', rather than relying on simpler verbs. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient and demonstrates a good command of the topic-specific vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used passive voice effectively to describe the process, which is appropriate for this task type (e.g., 'water is stored', 'electricity is produced'). While there are minor slips, such as the missing article in 'between the two reservoir' (should be plural 'reservoirs') and the unnecessary hyphen in 'high -level', these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense consistency is strong throughout the text.

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

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