Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-24

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 pictorial representation demonstrates the production of hydro-electricity in a power station.

Overall, the process undergoes through several stages, it commence with the water intake from the river through a long pipe and ended up with the power distribution through the power lines in a residential area.Moreover, this decipts that how energy is generated through water.

It is clearly seen from the diagram that, the high-level reservoir which stores a huge amount pf water in it, passes the water through dam gates which is open in day and closed in night. Afterthat water is passed through a long thin pipe and at the middle of that there are turbines which usually rotates when the water with high pressure falls on it.

Probably further, the generator is connected with the turbines as the turbine start rotating it produce mechanical engery and with the assist of generator this energy converted into electrical energy. Further, the power lines are attached with generator which brings the electricity to the residential area throung power lines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the hydroelectric power station process, but the response suffers from significant omissions and inaccuracies regarding the visual data. Crucially, the student completely fails to mention the low-level reservoir or the vital distinction between day and night cycles (such as pumping water back up at night and the reversible turbines), which are core features of the diagram. The overview is overly simplistic, and some details are imprecise, such as describing the pipe as 'long thin' without proper context. Because key parts of the process are missed, the response falls into the lower-middle bands for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is divided into logical paragraphs covering the introduction, overview, and body steps. However, the progression is sometimes disrupted by awkward transitions and poor referencing. For instance, 'The pictorial representation demonstrates...' is followed by a run-on sentence ('...undergoes through several stages, it commence with...'). Cohesive devices are used, but they are often mechanically or inaccurately applied (e.g., 'Moreover, this decipts that how energy...'). Paragraphing is attempted, but sentences lack smooth flow, pulling the overall score down to a Band 5.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student uses an adequate basic vocabulary to describe the diagram, including terms like 'turbines', 'generator', and 'power lines'. However, there are frequent lexical errors and spelling mistakes throughout the text, such as 'decipts', 'engery', 'throung', and 'pf'. Attempts to use more advanced vocabulary result in awkward collocations or incorrect word forms, like 'undergoes through' and 'with the assist of generator'. The range remains limited and minimally adequate for this task type.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent errors in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, such as 'it commence with', 'water... passes the water through dam gates which is open', and 'as the turbine start rotating it produce'. Punctuation is also problematic, leading to comma splices and run-on sentences. These recurring errors cause occasional difficulty for the reader and restrict the score to Band 5.0.

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.