Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The diagram illustrates the step by step process of electricity generation in a hydroelectric power station.
Overall, the electricity production process involves a series of steps and sustainability is maintained through reversible turbines. The station provide electricity to the national grid through power lines and station operates at both night and day due to operational requirements.
The hydro-electricity generation process starts as the river flows into a high level reservoir (Dam) therefore river appears as the main source of water. The water flows to turbine initiating from the Dam at day time producing electricity and the generated electricity reaches the national grid via generator and powerlines while the water stored in the low-level storage unit. In contrarily, at night water is pumped to the high-level reservoir via reversible turbine.
The night and day water flow directions are opposite and also the flow is natural at day time while induced at night.
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 features of the hydroelectric process, including the day/night cycle and the role of the reservoir and turbines. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of how electricity is generated is quite vague, and the mention of 'sustainability' is an external interpretation not explicitly supported by the diagram. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the day and night cycles could be more detailed to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 7 response. The overview is present but lacks a clear summary of the mechanical flow.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'In contrarily' (which is grammatically incorrect) and the repetitive use of 'and also'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the day and night cycles could be smoother. The referencing is mostly clear, though the connection between the generator and the storage unit is a bit disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using technical terms like 'hydroelectric', 'reservoir', 'turbine', and 'national grid'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'initiating from the Dam' and 'In contrarily'. The range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. The repetition of basic verbs like 'flows' and 'producing' limits the sophistication of the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The station provide' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'station operates at both night and day' (missing article). Additionally, 'In contrarily' is a non-standard phrase. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The control over punctuation and sentence structure is inconsistent, though the meaning remains generally accessible.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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