Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-27

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 4.0)

THE MAP OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION ILLUSTRATE THE EVERY DATA REGARDING IT WHERE WE CAN LOOK THE ALL OF THE DATA GIVEN.

OVERALL, ON THE GIVEN MAP AT THE TOP RIVER HAS CAME DOWN TO THE DAM AND GOING RAPIDLY ON SLOPPY WAY TOWARDS THE GENERATOR.

A DETAIL ANALYSIS OF THE MAP REVIEWS THAT THE ON THE TOP WHERE DAM IS SITUATED THERE IS A HIGH LEVEL RESERVOIR FOR WATER . INITIALLY THE DAM IS OPEN AT DAY THERE AFTER CLOSING AT NIGHT TIME . FLOW OF WATER HELPS TO PRODUCE A ELECTRICITY AT DAY TIME PERIOD ON THE OTHER HAND FLOW OF WATER GOES UP DURING PUMPING AT NIGHT.

IN THE NEXT PHASE OF POWER STATION , THERE WAS A MASSIVE GENERATOR WHICH WAS OPERATES TO PRODUCE A ELECTRICITY AND GIVE A SUPPLY TO THE POWER LINES. ALSO THERE REVERSIBLE TURBINES OPERATE ON A DAY FOR ELECTRICITY AND NIGHT TIME FOR PUMP WATER INTO HIGH LEVEL RESERVOIR .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe the process, but it fails to clearly identify the key stages or the cyclical nature of the hydroelectric system. The description is vague, using phrases like 'sloppy way' and 'every data', which do not accurately reflect the technical nature of the diagram. While the response mentions the reservoir, generator, and turbines, the explanation of how they interact is confusing and lacks precision. The summary of the process is fragmented, and the distinction between the day and night cycles is not clearly articulated, leading to an incomplete overview of the main features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The transition between the description of the reservoir and the generator is abrupt, and the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and often misused (e.g., 'A detail analysis of the map reviews that the on the top'). The referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of the process. The overall structure lacks a clear progression, and the connection between sentences is often disjointed, which hinders the clarity of the explanation.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is very limited and often inaccurate. There is a heavy reliance on basic words, and many terms are used incorrectly, such as 'sloppy way' to describe a pipe or penstock, and 'reviews' instead of 'reveals'. The phrasing is often unnatural, such as 'the every data' and 'produce a electricity'. There is no attempt to use technical or precise vocabulary related to the process (e.g., 'penstock', 'intake', 'reversibility'). The frequent errors in word choice and collocation significantly impede the reader's understanding of the technical process described.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are persistent issues with article usage ('a electricity', 'the every data'), subject-verb agreement ('map reviews', 'generator which was operates'), and tense consistency. Sentence structures are simple and often contain errors in word order or clause construction. While there is an attempt at complex sentences, they are consistently faulty, leading to a lack of clarity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary capitalization and missing commas, which further detracts from the overall quality of the writing.

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