Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The hydroelectric power station is responsible for generating electricity through water supply.

The systemic process works on the mechanism of hydro-energy that is consumed to generate electricity. The water flows all the way from river to dam as it has been created a high-level reservoir for water. The dam is constructed to manage water flow that is moved accordingly in times of day and night. The intake area is open at daytime while at night it is closed. The water flows fromthe reservoir to the power station where the reversible turbines works to operate generator with the assistance of power lines located there to the national grid for localized community. At night-time, the water is pumped in the opposite direction as a reversible process to pump water back to the location of high-level reservoir. However, at daytime, the water travelling from generator, is entered into low level reservoir after working as a source of rotating turbines in powerstation to make electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student covers all parts of the task by outlining the main features of the hydroelectric power station diagram, highlighting both the daytime electricity generation process and the night-time pumping phase. The response successfully identifies key stages such as the high-level reservoir, the intake being open during the day and closed at night, the role of the reversible turbines and generator, and the transfer of water to the low-level reservoir. However, the structure lacks an overview paragraph, which is an essential requirement for a high Task Achievement score in Academic Task 1. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly convoluted, such as the mention of power lines assisting the generator. Nevertheless, the core information is accurately reported and grounded in the visual data, earning a solid Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a logical progression overall, taking the reader from the river and reservoirs through the generation and pumping cycles. However, the text suffers from a major cohesion flaw: it is written entirely as a single block of text without paragraph breaks. Paragraphing is necessary in Task 1 to separate distinct stages or themes, such as contrasting the daytime generation process with the night-time pumping process. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'At night-time' and 'However', but referencing is occasionally unclear or clunky, as seen in 'where the reversible turbines works to operate generator with the assistance of power lines located there'. Because of the lack of paragraphing and mechanical cohesion, this criterion is placed at Band 5.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'reversible turbines', 'national grid', and 'reservoir'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary ('systemic process', 'mechanism of hydro-energy'), but these are sometimes awkward or misused in context. Several word choice and collocation errors are present, such as 'created a high-level reservoir' instead of 'forming' or 'containing', 'flows fromthe' (spacing error), and 'entered into low level reservoir' (missing article). Despite these inaccuracies, communication is not impeded, and the range is sufficient to convey the process, fitting the descriptor for Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over multi-clause sentences (e.g., 'The water flows from the reservoir to the power station where the reversible turbines works...'). However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several noticeable errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('reversible turbines works'), missing prepositions or articles ('flows fromthe river', 'entered into low level reservoir'), and awkward phrasing ('as it has been created a high-level reservoir'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequency of grammatical errors keeps the score at Band 5.5.

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