Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-08

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 the process of how electricity is being produced in a hydroelectric power station build in a river.

Overall, the power station is build in a river through which electricity is generated by the flow of water in day and night through generators and turbines. In the day water intake is open and at night it is closed.

In day the flow of water moves downwards in reversible turbines, and the turbines is connected to a generator, at day shift the water moves toward the low level reservoir to produce electricity. In night shift the reversible turbines pump the water into the high- level reservoir, and the flow of water during the night period moves upward because at night intake is closed.

In conclusion, hydroelectric power stations are beneficial for generating electricity at day shift, but in night shift intake should be opened to produce more electricity into the nation grid through power lines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station process, such as the day and night cycles and the role of the turbines and reservoirs. However, the description is somewhat inaccurate in its interpretation of the diagram. For instance, the claim that the intake is closed at night is a misinterpretation of the process, which actually involves pumping water back to the high-level reservoir. The conclusion also introduces an opinion ('should be opened') rather than summarizing the process, which is not appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. The overview is present but lacks sufficient detail regarding the mechanical components.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into an introduction, body, and conclusion, which provides a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the explanation of the day and night cycles. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In day', 'In night shift', and 'In conclusion', but they are somewhat mechanical and repetitive. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the paragraphing could be more effectively used to separate the distinct phases of the process. The flow between sentences is functional but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Words like 'produced', 'moves', and 'flow' are used frequently. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'build in a river' (should be 'built') and 'nation grid' (should be 'national grid'). The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use more precise or technical terminology related to hydroelectric power generation, such as 'potential energy', 'conversion', or 'cycle'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the power station is build', 'the turbines is connected') and tense inconsistencies. While the student attempts some complex sentence structures, they are often marred by errors, such as 'the process of how electricity is being produced'. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often simplistic. The frequency of errors is noticeable and occasionally makes the meaning slightly difficult to follow, though the overall message remains understandable.

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

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