Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-13

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 5.0)

The diagram illustrates the operation of a hydroelectric power station, how electricity generated through the flow of water.

Overall, it is evident that, there are two stages first how to electricity is producing day with water flowing downwards, how it pimped back up at night.

It can be clearly seen that the water stored in a high -level of reservoir behind a dam, sourced from the river, intake opening during a day. Once a water is released, it flows downwards through turbines, which direct it to generator. The movement of water then forces blades located at the bottom the generator to rotate, converting kinetic energy into electricity. After that, the electricity distributed national grid , through powerlines, supply people's.

At the night, the turbines are reversed, drawing store water from the lower-level reservoir back to high-level reservoir. When the pumped water enter the high- level reservoir, intake is closed to prevent water to flowing , allowing process begin next day.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station diagram, successfully outlining both the daytime electricity generation phase and the night-time water pumping phase. Key components such as the high-level reservoir, dam, turbines, and generator are mentioned, fulfilling the core requirements of Task 1. However, the explanation of the processes contains several confusing expressions and mechanical repetitions, such as 'how to electricity is producing day with water flowing downwards, how it pimped back up at night.' While the overall progression from day to night is discernible, the development lacks precision and clarity in places, preventing it from reaching a higher band. Overall, the response addresses the task adequately, earning a band score of 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response attempts to use paragraphing to separate the overall introduction from the main body steps, which creates a basic structural framework. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions and unclear referencing. For instance, phrases like 'Overall, it is evident that, there are two stages first how to electricity is producing day...' demonstrate faulty cohesion and weak grammatical linking. Cohesive devices are either missing, inadequate, or used inaccurately throughout the text. While there is some underlying organization separating the day and night phases, the lack of smooth transitions and mechanical referencing limits the coherence of the report, placing it firmly at a band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The lexical range is limited and frequently hindered by word-choice and spelling errors. The student attempts to use some task-specific vocabulary such as 'hydroelectric power station,' 'turbines,' 'generator,' and 'kinetic energy,' but these are offset by recurring inaccuracies such as 'pimped' instead of 'pumped,' 'store water' instead of 'stored water,' and 'supply people's' instead of 'supply people's homes.' There are also noticeable awkward phrases like 'intake opening during a day.' These lexical deficiencies and spelling slips cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect a limited vocabulary control typical of a band 5.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple or awkwardly constructed complex sentences that are frequently faulty. There are numerous grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues and tense confusion, such as 'how electricity generated' (missing auxiliary/verb), 'electricity distributed national grid' (missing preposition and passive markers), and 'to prevent water to flowing' instead of 'to prevent water from flowing.' These frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader and obscure the precise mechanics of the process, indicating that the grammar falls into the band 4.5 to 5.0 range, warranting a 5.0 score.

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

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