Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-02

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 6.0)

The diagram in the left side shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

First of all, from the diagram we can observe that the power station has to be located on a river where it can be constructed a dam. The dam has the purpose to to mentaine a higher level of water, like a reservoir. Under the dam is located the intake for water to flow into the generator where it will twist one of the mechanisms which generates power that will go into the power lines, and finally into the national grid. Then the water will flow to the low-level reservoir, and everything it is happening by day.

In the other hand, by night, the water that flowed into the power station and then in the low-level reservoir will be pumped up.

To conclude, we observe that the high-level reservoir is suppose to be upper than the generator and the low-level generator.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station, including the dam, the generator, and the cyclical nature of the water flow. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the explanation of the mechanism is vague, using terms like 'twist one of the mechanisms' rather than describing the turbine. While the process is generally clear, the response lacks a strong overview that synthesises the cyclical nature of the system effectively. The conclusion is also quite brief and focuses on physical positioning rather than summarizing the overall process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'In the other hand' (should be 'On the other hand'). The transition between the daytime and nighttime processes is functional but could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow feels a bit disjointed due to the short, simple sentence structures. Improved use of linking words would help connect the stages of the process more logically and fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the technical precision expected in an academic report. Phrases like 'twist one of the mechanisms' and 'everything it is happening' are imprecise and informal. There are also some spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'mentaine' (maintain) and 'suppose to be' (supposed to be). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific terminology related to hydroelectric power, such as 'turbine', 'penstock', 'reservoir', and 'reversibility'. The range is currently limited to basic descriptive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they often contain grammatical errors, such as 'where it can be constructed a dam' (passive voice error) and 'the low-level generator' (which is factually incorrect based on the diagram). There are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'in the left side' (on the left side) and 'upper than' (higher than). These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader, though they do not fully impede communication.

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

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