Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-26
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 provided diagram displays the process of electricity generation in hydroelectric power plant.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that this process complete in several distinct stages. Begining with when the water move from river to the high level reservior and concluding with generation of electricity wich is transfer to power lines.water run in a cycle in this process.
In intiall stage, the water flow from the river to high-level reservior which is dam. The situation is totaly different at night and day time. In day time water passes through a narrow intake to the electric generatore fixed in the pathway so water create pressure from upward side which spin the motor which create electricity, then the electricity is transfer to power lines and next phase it is pass to national gride where it is use for commercial usage.
At night time, the water which is stored in low level reserviour after generation of power is pass to dam again using the same generator which puss it upward to the dam for next day time process.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student covers the main parts of the process, successfully identifying both day and night operations and the cyclic nature of the system. Key elements such as the reservoirs, intake, generator, and national grid are mentioned. However, the overview is rather basic, stating simply that the process completes in several distinct stages. Furthermore, some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as describing the intake as 'narrow' or stating that water creates pressure from the 'upward side'. While all major steps are broadly addressed, the lack of a fully developed, integrated overview and minor mechanical inaccuracies in describing the process mechanics place this response solidly at Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a coherent overall arrangement, moving logically from the river and high-level reservoir through to the day generation phase and finishing with the night pumping phase. Paragraphing is attempted, with an introductory sentence and separate paragraphs for day and night operations. However, cohesive devices are sometimes faulty or mechanical, as seen in awkward transitions like 'In intiall stage' and run-on sentences containing multiple clauses strung together with commas (e.g., '...motor which create electricity, then the electricity is transfer...'). Referencing is occasionally unclear. These issues prevent the response from achieving a Band 7.0, making Band 6.0 a fair representation.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms like 'reservior', 'generator', 'national gride', and 'commercial usage'. However, there are numerous spelling errors throughout the text (e.g., 'Begining', 'reservior', 'wich', 'intiall', 'generatore', 'gride', 'puss'). Word choice and collocation are also occasionally imprecise, such as 'puss it upward' instead of 'pumps it upward'. Because these errors do not impede overall communication but are frequent enough to detract from the quality, the vocabulary merits a 5.5 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in verb forms, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'process complete', 'water move', 'water run in a cycle', 'electricity wich is transfer', 'water flow'). Punctuation is also weak, resulting in heavy run-on sentences lacking appropriate boundary markers. While simple sentences are generally understandable, complex structures are frequently faulty. These persistent errors place the grammar score at Band 5.0.
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