Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The provided diagram illustrates the electricity generation process in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, It is a sustainable electricity generation system which starts with the flowing of water to generate power during the day from river and ends with the water flowing back for pumping at night and this process continues.

At first, high-level reservoir from river flows to the dam. Below the dam, intake of water remains opened during daytime but is closed during night. Furthermore, during the day time, water is flown to generate electricity via a pipe where reversible turbines operate generator in the power station. There after, power lines connected to the generator in the power station, flow electricity to national grid for usage.

Moreover, water is flown from the reversible turbines during the day to the low-level reservoir but flows back to through the turbines at night during water pumping. The intake remains closed at night to the high-level reservoir. This way the water flows continues to power the electricity or national usage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric process, including the distinction between daytime and nighttime operations. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in technical terminology. For instance, the explanation of the 'reversible turbines' and the movement of water between reservoirs is slightly muddled, which hinders the clarity of the process description. To improve, ensure that the relationship between the high-level reservoir, the turbines, and the national grid is described with more logical flow and technical accuracy. While all parts of the task are addressed, the development of the explanation could be more concise and professional.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Cohesive devices such as 'At first', 'Furthermore', 'There after', and 'Moreover' are used to connect ideas. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'This way the water flows continues', which is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking phrases and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to their antecedents.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'water is flown' (instead of 'water flows') and 'national usage' (which is vague). The student relies on basic verbs and nouns, failing to utilize more precise technical vocabulary related to hydroelectric power, such as 'penstock', 'kinetic energy', or 'pumped-storage'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and occasional misuse of collocations limit the score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and prepositions, such as 'water is flown' and 'flows back to through the turbines'. The use of articles is also inconsistent, for example, 'from river' instead of 'from the river'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing technical processes.

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

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