Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-10
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 layout illustrates the method of electric power production by using water in a hydroelectric power station.
Overall view shows that, the primary source of production for electricity is provided by river water during time, subsequentaly generator in power station operate to produce electricity.
The mechanism of electricity production start from sea leval where water is stored in high level resevoir, made on undersurface of dam. However, the water flow toward power station only in day time, this flow passes from generator which produce electricity, in addition the wastes produced move into low level reservior. The reversible turbines operate in night time to pump water into high level reservior. the middle pipeline track has bi- directional flow, at day water move from high level reservior to low level reservior, and in night its flow get reverse.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main features of the hydroelectric process, the description is somewhat superficial. You mention the high-level reservoir and the generator, but the explanation of the process is slightly inaccurate in places (e.g., referring to 'sea level' for a dam reservoir). To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed step-by-step account of the cycle, including the role of the intake and the specific function of the turbine during both day and night cycles. Expanding on the technical details would help you reach the word count and provide a more comprehensive summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay has a basic structure with an introduction and a body paragraph. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'However' and 'in addition', the flow between sentences is occasionally awkward, such as the transition between the reservoir description and the turbine operation. Paragraphing is insufficient; the entire process description is contained within one block, making it harder to follow. To improve, use clear paragraph breaks to separate the overview from the detailed process description and use a wider variety of linking words to connect the stages of the cycle more logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a technical description. You use terms like 'layout', 'method', and 'mechanism', which are acceptable, but there are spelling errors such as 'subsequentaly' and 'resevoir' (repeatedly misspelled). Additionally, the phrase 'during time' is unnatural. To improve, focus on using more precise technical terminology related to hydroelectric power, such as 'intake', 'penstock', or 'power grid', and ensure you check the spelling of key terms. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs would also help elevate the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The mechanism... start from' (subject-verb agreement), 'water move' (should be 'moves'), and 'its flow get reverse' (should be 'is reversed'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and incorrect capitalization. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing processes. Proofreading for basic errors like missing articles and verb tense consistency will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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