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)

This picture depicts the process of how the generation of electricity is done in a hydroelectric power station. the station usually consists of reservoir, dam, turbine and generator.

The water coming from river is stored in a high level reservoir before the dam. there is an intake underneath the dam wall which stays open during the day to keep the water flowing and is closed at night. a reversible turbine is placed after the dam which works as a generator during the day when running in forward direction, whereas acting as a pump during night to return the excess water back to the higher reservoir.

the water flowing into the turbine passes through a generator which is then converted to electricity and transferred to the power lines in the national grid. while, excess water that is stored in the lower reservoir, is pumped back from the turbine to the higher reservoir during the night.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, identifying the key components and the cycle of water movement. However, the description is somewhat basic and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. While the main stages are mentioned, the explanation of the 'reversible' nature of the turbine could be more clearly linked to the day/night cycle to improve clarity. The response addresses the task requirements, but the lack of a distinct introductory overview and a more cohesive summary of the process prevents it from reaching a higher band. It provides a functional description but lacks the analytical depth expected for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a process description. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For instance, the transition between the day and night cycles could be smoother. There is a lack of variety in linking words, and some sentences feel slightly disjointed. The paragraphing is sufficient, but the progression of ideas could be more fluid. The use of referencing (e.g., 'which is then converted') is generally clear, but the overall flow would benefit from a wider range of cohesive markers to better connect the stages of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, covering technical terms such as 'reservoir', 'turbine', and 'generator'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication, but the response lacks the more sophisticated or precise vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. Phrases like 'generation of electricity is done' are a bit simplistic. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more varied verbs and descriptive nouns to explain the process with greater precision and academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several recurring grammatical errors, particularly regarding capitalization (e.g., 'the station', 'the water', 'a reversible') and missing articles (e.g., 'consists of reservoir'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the process. The sentence structure is functional, but there is a lack of variety in complex grammatical forms. Improving attention to basic punctuation and article usage would significantly enhance the accuracy of the writing.

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.