Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-22

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 diagram illustrates the process of how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the generation of electricity is complex process with opposite features at day and night.

Initially, water coming from the river is collected at high-level reservoir with the help of the dam. The water is flowed inside the power station to generate electricity through the intake, which is opened at day and closed at night. While the flow of water is opposite at night as compared to day. After entering the power station the water flows towards the reversible turbines.

The reversable turbines is used to operate generator at day-time, whereas, at night it is used to pump water back into high-level reservoir. The water is stored at the low-level reservoir. At day the water is transferred through generator to power lines and finally reaching national grid. At night the water from low-level reservoir flows back to reversible turbines and again flowing towards high-level reservoir. This loop causes in the production of electricity at the power station.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully covers all the key stages of the hydroelectric power station process diagram. The student identifies the main features, such as the high-level reservoir, dam, intake, reversible turbines, generator, power lines, national grid, and low-level reservoir. Furthermore, the important distinction between day and night operations—specifically the generation of electricity during the day and the pumping of water back at night—is correctly highlighted in the overview and body paragraphs. The information is accurately reported based on the visual data provided, with no significant misinterpretations or invented data. However, the explanation of the water flow at night could be slightly more integrated and developed to reach the highest descriptor levels, but overall it fulfills the requirements of Task 1 effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The text is organized logically into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that follow the chronological and cyclical nature of the process. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the stages, such as 'Initially', 'whereas', and 'At day / At night'. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, with the overview clearly stating the dual day-night nature of the process. While the progression is mostly clear, referencing and transitions between sentences occasionally feel slightly mechanical or abrupt, such as in the transition 'While the flow of water is opposite at night as compared to day', which forms an incomplete fragment. Nonetheless, the overall arrangement is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a technical process, incorporating terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'reservoir', 'intake', 'reversible turbines', and 'national grid'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'complex process', 'opposite features', and 'transfered'. However, there are a few word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'is complex process' (missing article), 'water is flowed' (incorrect passive voice), and 'reversable' (spelling error). Vocabulary is minimally sufficient to convey the process, but precision and control are inconsistent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'which is opened at day and closed at night'). However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward structures throughout the text. Examples include 'water coming from the river is collected at high-level reservoir' (missing article), 'The water is flowed inside' (incorrect verb form), and 'causes in the production' (incorrect preposition). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but structural inaccuracies recur, placing this response firmly in Band 6 where simple and complex forms are mixed alongside persistent errors.

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