Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The assigned diagram illustrates the process of generation of the electricity from a hydroelectric power station
overall, it can be clearly seen that electricity is produced during the daytime as water flows downhill through reversible turbines, whereas at night the process is reversed, with the turbines pimping water back into the upper reserrvior. The generated electricity is then transmitted to the national grid.
During the day, water from the river is stored in high-level reservoir behind a dam. When the intake is opened, this water flows downhill through a channel towards the power station. As it passes through the reversible turbines, they operate a generator, producing electricity this transmitted via power lines to the national grid. The water subsequently enters the low-level reservoir.
At night, the intake from the upper reservoir is closed. Instead, the reversible turbines operate in the opposite direction, using electricity to pump water from the low-level.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 power station process, including both the daytime generation and the nighttime pumping cycle. The overview is clear and highlights the cyclical nature of the system. However, the description of the nighttime process is incomplete; the sentence ends abruptly at 'low-level', failing to mention the return to the upper reservoir or the completion of the cycle. While the main features are identified, the lack of a full explanation for the second half of the process prevents a higher score. The information is generally accurate, but the abrupt ending limits the overall development of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the daytime process to the nighttime cycle. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'during the day', and 'subsequently' are used effectively to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, and the final sentence is incomplete, which disrupts the flow of the conclusion. Despite these minor issues, the text remains easy to follow and the logical structure is evident throughout the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for describing a technical process, with terms like 'reversible turbines', 'national grid', and 'high-level reservoir'. There are some spelling errors, such as 'pimping' (instead of pumping) and 'reserrvior' (instead of reservoir), which are distracting. While the range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the necessary information, the errors in spelling and the misuse of 'pimping' indicate a lack of precision. To improve, you should focus on proofreading for common spelling mistakes and ensuring that technical terms are used accurately in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'generation of the electricity' (the article 'the' is unnecessary) and 'producing electricity this transmitted' (which lacks a relative pronoun or conjunction). The sentence structure is generally functional, but the incomplete final sentence is a significant grammatical failure. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of minor errors and the unfinished structure prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence combining and ensuring all sentences have a clear subject and verb will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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