Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram depicts the industrial process of generating electricity via a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the high-level reservoir is used in the day time to generate electricity. However, the process is reversed at night, where water from the low-level reservoir is pumped back up. In the final stage, the generated electricity is supplied to power lines.

In the day time, the high-level reservoir is used to store water, which is pased by the intake to generate electricity. A reversible turbine is used to operate generator which is in turn supplies electricity to power lines. The power lines are connected with national grid providing electricity to whole country. Furthermore, the another line of reversible turbines isjoin with low-level reservoir storing water in it.

In the night time, the process is reversed where the water from low-level reservoir is again pumped back through reversible turbines and showing the intake area is closed at that time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully covers the key features of the diagram, outlining both the daytime process of electricity generation and the nighttime pumping cycle. The overview correctly highlights the dual operation modes and the final delivery to the national grid. However, there are minor inaccuracies in tracing the precise pathways, such as stating that 'the another line of reversible turbines is join with low-level reservoir', which slightly confuses the layout of the conduits and reservoirs. Overall, the main processes of water flow, turbine operation, and power transmission are adequately identified and reported, satisfying the core requirements of Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text is logically organised into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing the daytime and nighttime operations respectively. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the process, such as 'In the day time', 'Furthermore', and 'In the night time'. However, paragraphing is somewhat basic, and referencing within sentences occasionally feels a bit mechanical or repetitive. Cohesion is generally clear throughout, though smoother transitions between the mechanical components would elevate the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for describing a technical process, including terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'reversible turbine', 'national grid', and 'reservoir'. However, there are noticeable word choice and spelling errors, such as 'pased' instead of 'passed', and awkward phrasing like 'is join with' instead of 'is connected to'. While the student attempts less common vocabulary, these inaccuracies and limited lexical flexibility prevent the response from achieving a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including passive voice constructions like 'water from the low-level reservoir is pumped back up'. However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward structures throughout the text, such as 'where water... is pumped back up' and 'showing the intake area is closed at that time', which lack proper connective phrasing. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but frequent minor structural errors persist, placing the grammar firmly in the Band 6 category.

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.