Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-27

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 given diagram demonstrates the process of generating electricity in a hydroelectric power station.

The image shows the dam that is constructed on a river to store it water in high-level reservoir with a narrow opening under the wall of the dam. The water from the reservoir flows throgh the pipe to the reversible turbine to rotate the generator. This rotation produces electricity which is then transferred through power lines to national grid. The water from the turbine is then stored into a low-level reservoir. This whole process of generating electricity occurs during the day.

At night, the water from the low-level reservoir is pumped back through the pipe by using the turbine as a water pump to force it back to the high-level reservoir. The intake valve of the water pipe is closed during night and opened during the day. The process is very enviroment friendly as it uses no combustion of fossil fuels for its working.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all main parts of the process diagram, detailing both the day and night cycles of the hydroelectric power station. The response reports key stages such as the water storage in the high-level reservoir, the flow through the pipe to operate the generator during the day, and the pumping mechanism at night. However, the student includes a piece of outside knowledge and subjective commentary in the final sentence ('The process is very enviroment friendly...'), which is not presented in the visual data. While an overview is implied through the sequencing, a clearer summary sentence highlighting the cyclical nature of the process would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised into clear paragraphs separating the introduction, the daytime process, and the nighttime process. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well to sequence events, such as 'The water from the reservoir...', 'This rotation produces...', and 'At night, the water...'. However, referencing and transitions are at times slightly mechanical. For instance, the transition between sentences in the second paragraph could be smoother, and paragraphing could be slightly better balanced, but overall, the progression of information is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary relevant to the diagram, successfully using terms such as 'hydroelectric power station', 'reservoir', 'reversible turbine', and 'national grid'. There are, however, a few noticeable spelling errors ('throgh' instead of through, 'enviroment' instead of environment) and minor lexical inaccuracies like 'store it water' instead of 'store its water'. Despite these slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the technical process clearly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and prepositional phrases ('The image shows the dam that is constructed...'). There is good control over basic grammar, and many sentences are accurate. However, minor errors persist, including article omissions ('in high-level reservoir' instead of 'in a high-level reservoir') and awkward prepositions ('by using the turbine' instead of 'using the turbine'). These errors occur occasionally but do not impede the overall communication of the process.

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