Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-04

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 illustrates how a hydroelectric power station generated electricity.

Overall, in the beginning water iwhich is carried in the dam, is passed to generate power, as it is a reversible turbine, meaning in the day it operates generate and in the night its operations are closed.

Initially, the river fills the water into the dam, which is on the high-level reservoir, then it flows the water to generate electricity in the daytime, which is passed to the power station, where generator is installed in it, and it consists of power lines and the national grid. In addition, in the daytime, water is carried into the power station, which then throws it into the low-level reservoir.

On the other hand, in the nighttime, the generator operator is closed, which then pumped the water into the high-level reservoir. Furthermore, large amount of water is flowed during pumping at night into the dam.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric process, identifying the two distinct phases (daytime generation and nighttime pumping). However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in technical terminology. For instance, the explanation of the 'reversible turbine' is slightly confusing, and the flow of water between the reservoirs is described in a way that obscures the mechanical process. While the main features are addressed, the summary lacks the analytical clarity required for a higher band, as the relationship between the components (dam, turbine, generator, and grid) is not fully articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the general overview to the specific phases. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'In addition, in the daytime' and 'On the other hand, in the nighttime'. Some sentences are disjointed, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when describing the movement of water between the high-level and low-level reservoirs. The logical flow is present but requires more sophisticated linking to achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate to convey the basic meaning, but it is limited and occasionally imprecise. Phrases like 'fills the water into the dam' and 'throws it into the low-level reservoir' are not standard technical collocations for describing a power station. There is a reliance on basic verbs, and the attempt to use more specific terminology is hindered by inaccurate word choices. To improve, you should focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to engineering and processes, such as 'intake', 'discharge', and 'cycle'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'water iwhich is carried', 'it operates generate', and 'the generator operator is closed'. These errors, particularly with verb forms and relative clauses, are noticeable. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of control over basic grammatical structures and punctuation prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and sentence construction is needed.

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

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