Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The given process diagram illustrates information about, the production of electricity in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the picture depicts that water from river is transferred into the dam. What comes next is water from here is flowed into the electricity generator through high-level reservoir. Meanwhile, the generator works differently in day and night.for the generation and pumping of current through charges. Ultimately, generator at the Power station move charges in the forward direction through Power lines to national grid for electricity production.

The given process is a power production process using water as a source to produce current. It showed that initially, water from rivers is flowed down into a Dam through reservoir under under high energy circumstances. Secondly, water intake from the reservoir is transferred won into the Power station. At this place two steps are involved for the flow of charges, as intake of water here is shut during the night and it remained open in night time .During the day time water flow to the energy station and at night water is pumped back to the reservoir. Finally . at the end of the reservoir it is transferred to the Grid station. At the end of the process the power lines are automated to generate electricity through Reversible turbines during the day by a low level reservoir , on the other hand at night current is produced by pumping through high-level reservoir.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the hydroelectric power generation process but fails to accurately interpret the diagram. The description of the day/night cycle is confused and contradictory, stating that water is pumped back at night while also claiming the intake is shut. The explanation of the 'high-level' and 'low-level' reservoirs is inaccurate, as the diagram illustrates a single system with a high-level reservoir and a power station. Key features, such as the turbine and the specific flow direction, are not clearly explained. The response lacks a clear, accurate summary of the main features, leading to a significant misunderstanding of the technical process shown.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between ideas is often abrupt or confusing, such as the sudden shift between the first and second paragraphs which repeat information. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often misused or mechanical (e.g., 'What comes next is...', 'At this place...'). The referencing is frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of the process. The overall structure lacks the clarity required for a higher band, as the information is not organized in a way that guides the reader through the stages of the diagram effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise. There is frequent misuse of technical terms, such as 'pumping of current' and 'charges' instead of 'electricity' or 'water flow'. Some words are used incorrectly in context, such as 'transferred won' (likely a typo for 'down') and 'automated'. While the student attempts to use some process-related vocabulary, the lack of precision and the repetitive nature of the language hinder the clarity of the description. There are also several spelling and word-choice errors that, while not always impeding communication, demonstrate a lack of control over the required register.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in punctuation, such as unnecessary commas ('information about, the production') and misplaced periods ('Finally . at the end'). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are often incorrect (e.g., 'water from river is transferred', 'flowed down into a Dam'). While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of grammatical errors and awkward phrasing prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The control over complex structures is limited, and errors are noticeable throughout the text.

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