Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-28

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 diagram describe what way electricity is manufactured in a hydroelectric power plants.

Overall,this diagram show that the way electricity is generated in a power station.Dam played a vital role in generating a electricity.

According to the diagram, River water flown under the dam when the dam is opened .The dam is opened in day time and close in the night.when dam is opened the flow of water generate electricity. The dam produce maximum level of electricity. Generator play vital role in the manufacturing of electricity.Water flow from close drains and hit the turbine and generate electricity .Mostly the electricity is generate in day time because after the sunset most of the workers go at the own home or apartments . That's why most of the electricity generate in day time. The main features of dam is turbine,generator and reservoir areas. Reservoir areas can help to store water and make pressure of the water.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process but fails to accurately interpret the diagram. The student introduces external, incorrect information, such as the claim that the dam opens and closes based on the time of day or that electricity generation is linked to workers returning home. These are not present in the diagram and represent a misunderstanding of the task. While the main features like the turbine and reservoir are mentioned, the explanation of the process is inaccurate and lacks a clear, objective summary of the mechanical steps shown. The response does not adequately report the main features as required by the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into a few short paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is very limited and often repetitive (e.g., 'The dam is opened... when dam is opened...'). The transition between sentences is mechanical, and the lack of logical flow makes the description difficult to follow. Paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related information, such as the components of the power station versus the process of generation. Overall, the structure is basic and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'generate', 'electricity', and 'dam'. The student struggles with accurate collocations, such as 'manufactured' instead of 'generated' or 'produced', and 'close drains' which is not a standard term for this context. There are also errors in word form, such as 'describe' instead of 'describes' and 'show' instead of 'shows'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a technical process with precision, and the errors occasionally hinder the clarity of the explanation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are consistent subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'The diagram describe', 'dam played', 'electricity is generate'). Punctuation is also problematic, with missing spaces after commas and inconsistent capitalization. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences are often marred by errors in tense or word order. While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of basic grammatical mistakes prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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