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 diagram illustrates the process of generating hydroelectricity through river.
The process includes many stages beginning with river's water reservation in dam and end with power supply to the national grid. The main part of the power production process is done at the power station.
At first, flowing water of river is reserved in dam. That reserved water is let flowed towards the power station during day time. In power station, the flowed water force rotates the turbines of generator. After that, the generator starts to produce electricity which is transmitted by power lines to national grid.
At night, reversible turbines pumps water into high-level reservoir.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the ability to fully develop the description of the process. While the main stages are identified, the lack of detail means the response is only a partial summary. The overview is very brief, and the explanation of the mechanism—particularly the distinction between day and night operations—is underdeveloped. To improve, you must expand on the specific components shown in the diagram, such as the intake, the specific role of the turbine and generator, and the transmission process, ensuring you meet the word count to allow for a comprehensive report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into short paragraphs, which helps with the overall structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. There is a limited use of cohesive devices; for instance, 'At first' and 'After that' are used, but the transitions between the day and night cycles are abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'the flowed water force', which sounds unnatural. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence flows logically into the next, creating a more cohesive narrative of the process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, often relying on the words provided in the prompt. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choices, such as 'river's water reservation' instead of 'water storage' or 'reservoir', and 'the flowed water force' instead of 'the force of the flowing water'. The term 'pumps' is used correctly, but the overall range is limited. To improve, focus on using more precise technical terminology related to hydroelectric power, such as 'intake', 'penstock', 'kinetic energy', and 'recycled'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. There are frequent issues with articles (e.g., 'in dam' instead of 'in a dam' or 'in the dam') and verb forms (e.g., 'is let flowed' instead of 'is allowed to flow'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. The error 'reversible turbines pumps' shows a subject-verb agreement mistake. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct article usage and subject-verb agreement, and attempt to incorporate more complex structures like 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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