Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given diagram depicts the sequential process of electricity generation in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the process is based on three main stages, which begin with the intake of water from a river and concludes with the supply of energy to the national grid station, while reversible turbines act as an intermediate stage. In addition, they are bifunctional in terms of the direction of pumping water.

During the day, gates of the dam are opened to allow the maximum intake of water, which flows downward to rotate reversible turbines, which are present in the bottom of the power station. Additionally, these turbines power the generator, located at the top of the power station to produce electricity, which is transmitted through various power lines to the national grid station.

In contrast, during the night, the water moves from the low-level reservoir to the high-level reservoir, then to the river, with the help of reversible turbines that play the essential role of pumps to push the water in an upward direction from the low-level reservoir to the high-level reservoir.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student provides a clear and well-structured overview of the process of electricity generation in a hydroelectric power station, successfully capturing the cyclical nature of the operation between day and night. All key stages are covered, from the initial intake of water from the river to the high-level reservoir, the flow through the reversible turbines to generate electricity via the generator, transmission through power lines to the national grid, and the nighttime pumping cycle back to the high-level reservoir. The response is accurate according to the visual data provided, with no significant omissions or misinterpretations. This fulfills the requirements for a Band 7.5 to 8.0 level in Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph containing an overview, moves to the daytime generation process, and concludes with the nighttime pumping phase. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate these distinct operational modes. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In addition', 'During the day', and 'In contrast' are employed effectively to guide the reader through the cycle, though occasional referencing could be slightly tighter. Overall, cohesion is well managed, supporting a clear and logical flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a technical process. Less common items such as 'sequential process', 'intermediate stage', 'bifunctional', and 'transmission' are used effectively. While there are minor awkwardness issues in word choice, such as 'gates of the dam are opened' where the diagram refers to the intake, and 'concludes with the supply of energy to the national grid station' (often simply called the 'national grid'), the vocabulary remains flexible and precise enough to convey the processes clearly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, featuring relative clauses ('which begin with...', 'which are present in...') and participial phrases. Grammatical control is generally strong, and the majority of sentences are error-free. There are minor slips, such as the slight clumsiness in 'In addition, they are bifunctional in terms of the direction of pumping water', where the antecedent for 'they' (referring back to reversible turbines) is slightly distant. However, punctuation is accurate and errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the Band 7 range.

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