Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-30

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 6.5)

The following diagram illustrates how electricity is produced by using flow of water from river in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, we can observe that the generation of electricity produced in this hydroelectric power station is indefinite. Furthermore, the different functioning of hydropower can also be seen depending upon the time of day.

Detailed analysis of the diagram showcases the generation of electricity by using water flowing from a river. The water is collected in a high-level reservoir by constructing a dam around the river blocking its path. There is an intake at the bottom of the dam. It is open during the day time which directs the water current directly to a power station. The strong water current rotates the turbines which powers up the generator to produce electricity and is passed through power lines to the national grid. The water passed through the turbine is collected at the low-level reservoir.

In addition to this, during the night time, the turbines start to rotate in opposite direction such that the water stored in low-level reservoir is directed towards the high-level reservoir over night and when the sun rises this process continues indefinitely.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process well. You successfully identified the key stages, including the dam, the intake, the turbine/generator mechanism, and the cyclical nature of the water flow between reservoirs. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; describing the process as 'indefinite' is a vague interpretation of a cyclical process. To reach a higher band, ensure your overview focuses on the core mechanical function rather than philosophical descriptions. The description of the day/night cycle is clear and accurately reflects the provided diagram, demonstrating a good grasp of the process flow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological and functional stages of the process. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In addition to this', and 'when the sun rises' to link ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the general overview from the specific mechanical details. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, though some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the flow between the day and night cycles. Overall, the structure is clear and supports the reader's understanding of the diagram.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'reservoir', 'intake', 'turbines', and 'national grid' correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'functioning of hydropower' and 'indefinite', which are not the most precise terms for this context. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the more precise, technical collocations that would elevate the response to a higher band. However, the vocabulary used is accurate enough to convey the technical process without causing confusion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'by using flow of water from river' (missing articles) and 'rotates the turbines which powers up' (subject-verb agreement error: 'power up'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout. You demonstrate control over complex structures, such as the passive voice ('is collected', 'is directed'), which is essential for describing processes. To improve, focus on article usage and ensuring subject-verb agreement in complex sentences.

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

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