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)
Given diagram illustrates the process of electricity generation from hydroelectric power station. The station consists of 3 main components that are playing their role in the generation of electricity by following multiple steps and undergoing numerous processes.
Initially, river plays its part of moving water to dam, furthermore dam works as water storage. Dam consistes of huge walls that works as water blocker and a High-level reservoir in which water is stored on high altitude than Power station. Intake usually opens on day time and closes on nigh. From intake water flows out of dam and flows downward to Power station for electricity generation. It enters the generator through turbines opening and turbine operates generator which generates electricity that travel from Power lines to National grid.
Secondly, there is an another process that pumps water back to high-level reservoir, and this process happened at night in which reversible turbines push water from low-level reservoir to high-level reservoir.
In conclusion, the process of electricity generation involves multiple steps and after involvement of multiple objects electricity is generated that we use in our homes.
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 stages of the process diagram, mentioning the high-level reservoir, dam, intake, power station, generator, power lines, national grid, and the low-level reservoir. They also correctly identify the cyclical day and night operations, noting that water flows down during the day to generate electricity and is pumped back up at night. However, there is some lack of precision in describing certain relationships, such as 'generator through turbines opening', and the overview is a bit generic. The overall presentation meets the criteria for Band 6.0 as it covers all parts of the task and highlights the key features, though some descriptions remain slightly under-developed or imprecise.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical sequence from the river and high-level reservoir down to the power station, followed by the night-time pumping process. Paragraphing is attempted with a clear introduction, body paragraphs detailing the daytime and night-time processes, and a conclusion. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or faulty, such as 'Secondly, there is an another process' and the awkward transition 'In conclusion, the process of electricity generation involves multiple steps...'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, placing the essay firmly at Band 6.0 for logical progression with some mechanical cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing terms like 'hydroelectric power station', 'reservoir', 'intake', 'reversible turbines', and 'generator'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation issues, such as 'river plays its part of moving water to dam', 'on high altitude than', 'closes on nigh' (typographical error), and 'an another process'. While the student attempts less common vocabulary, inaccuracies in word formation and collocation prevent a higher band, making Band 5.5 an appropriate descriptor for this performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses ('that are playing their role') and subordinate clauses. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('Given diagram illustrates', 'at night in which'), subject-verb agreement errors ('Dam consistes', 'works as water blocker'), and awkward prepositions ('on day time', 'on high altitude than'). These errors occasionally cause slight distraction for the reader, though they do not completely impede communication. This corresponds well to a Band 5.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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