Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-01
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 diagram shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station from a river in the day and night time with different steps and the water goes up and down.
The water from the river constantly hold a progressive lead into the high-level reservoir behind the dam at the start after that in the day time the intake is open so it showed a progressive flow of water going down to generate electricity, and the water goes into the power station to hit the reversible turbines which operates the generator to make power and then the power lines send it to the national grid and the water goes into the low-level reservoir in the end.
The water in the low-level reservoir also had a steady growth with no decline whatsoever starting from the day time and in the night time the intake is closed and the reversible turbines pump the water back up to the high-level reservoir with a whopping amount of water going back up the same way.
Each day and night showed a increasing growth in the generation of electricity, this shows that people started switching to hydroelectric power than coal power which helps in reducing global warming, controlling pollution, increasing use of natural water and so.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, such as the day/night cycle and the movement of water between reservoirs. However, the analysis is marred by the inclusion of irrelevant personal opinion in the final paragraph, where you discuss global warming and coal power. This is not part of the diagram and falls outside the scope of an Academic Task 1 report. Furthermore, the description of the process is somewhat imprecise; for instance, describing the water as having a 'steady growth' in the reservoir is inaccurate, as the diagram illustrates a cyclical process rather than a linear increase. To improve, focus strictly on describing the visual information provided without adding external commentary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'and' to connect long, run-on sentences. The progression of ideas is sometimes unclear because the sentences lack logical connectors that distinguish between the day and night stages effectively. Referencing is occasionally confusing, particularly when describing the water flow. Improving the use of transition signals (e.g., 'consequently', 'in contrast', 'subsequently') would help create a smoother flow between the different stages of the process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. Phrases like 'whopping amount' are too informal for an academic report. There is also some awkward word choice, such as 'progressive lead' and 'increasing growth', which do not accurately describe the mechanical process shown in the diagram. To achieve a higher score, you should use more technical and precise terminology related to engineering or processes, such as 'intake valve', 'cycle', 'generate', and 'pumped back'. Avoid informal or emotive language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response relies heavily on simple and compound sentences, often joined by 'and', which leads to run-on structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('water... hold', 'turbines which operates') and tense inconsistencies. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of complex sentence structures and the presence of persistent errors in basic grammar limit the score. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of sentence structures, such as passive voice, which is highly appropriate for describing technical processes, and ensure that subjects and verbs agree correctly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.