Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-18

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 6.5)

The process diagram illustrates the production of electricity in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, it can be seen that during day time the water from high-level reservoir is used to make electricity, which is then supplied to power lines and national grid systematically, whereas during night the water from low level reservoir flow in an opposite direction and enters in high-level river.

In the beginning, during day time the river flows into high-level reservoir which is then collected into dam. Subsequenty, the water flows from high level to low level, enters in a power station where generator is used to produe electricity. Later it is transmitted to power lines and national grid.

At night, the water from low-level reservoir enters into a power station, and flows against gradient from low attitude to high, eventually, the water is collected in a high-level reservoir. The intake is open during day and close at night, ensuring the generation of electricity during day only.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear overview of the hydroelectric power station process and highlighting the main features of both daytime generation and nighttime pumping. The overview effectively captures the cyclical nature of the process, noting that water flows from the high-level reservoir during the day and is pumped back up at night. Key stages such as the intake, reversible turbines, generator, and national grid are all correctly reported. However, there are minor inaccuracies in the description, such as stating that water enters a 'high-level river' at night rather than returning to the high-level reservoir. Overall, the response is well-grounded in the visual data and presents a clear summary of the cyclical process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, beginning with an introduction and clear overview, followed by separate paragraphs detailing the daytime and nighttime phases. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the beginning', and 'At night' are used to structure the progression of the process effectively. However, referencing and cohesive links are occasionally awkward, such as 'whereas during night the water from low level reservoir flow in an opposite direction and enters in high-level river.' Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body details, resulting in a coherent overall arrangement that guides the reader through the stages.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a technical process, incorporating terms like 'process diagram', 'generation', 'reversible turbines', and 'national grid'. However, there are several instances of unnatural word choices and lexical inaccuracies, such as 'day time' instead of 'daytime', 'low level' instead of 'low-level', and 'produe' (producing). Less common vocabulary is attempted, but control is inconsistent. Spelling errors like 'Subsequenty' and 'produe' are present, though they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, the student should refine collocations and eliminate basic spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and subordinate structures (e.g., 'the water from high-level reservoir is used to make electricity, which is then supplied to power lines...'). However, grammatical control is uneven. There are noticeable errors with prepositions and articles, such as missing articles ('from high-level reservoir', 'enters in high-level river'), incorrect prepositions ('enters in a power station'), and subject-verb agreement issues ('the water from low level reservoir flow'). Complex structures often contain minor errors, placing this response firmly in Band 6.

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

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