Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-29
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)
writing task-1
The given diagram illustrate the the process how electricity is generated with the help of hydroelectric power station.
Overall, it can be seen that, there are many process to generate electricity beginning with river water and end with reversible turbines.
To commence with, during the day water is stored in the high level reservoir behind a dam, whereas, when the intake was opened, water flowes towards the power station with the help of pipe. As the water passes through the reversible turbines and operate generator, produce electricity. Then the help of powerline electricity transfer to National grid. After passing through the tubes water goes low level reservoir.
On the other hand, during the night intake is closed and the process is reserved the reversible turbines work as a pumps using electricity water transfer to low level reservoir to high level of reservoir. Moreover, its allows the water stored into the dam and in day started process again.
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 response covers the main features of the hydroelectric power station diagram, successfully outlining the dual processes occurring during the day and night. The student identifies the high-level reservoir, dam, intake, reversible turbines, generator, and low-level reservoir. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in describing the sequence and mechanics, such as stating that the process 'end with reversible turbines' and claiming that the water goes to the low-level reservoir 'after passing through the tubes', which confuses the direction of the water flow during the day. Furthermore, the overview is rather simplistic ('there are many process to generate electricity beginning with river water and end with reversible turbines'). Despite these minor issues, all main parts of the task are addressed, and the overall mechanics are adequately reported.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is arranged into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that separate the daytime and night-time processes, providing a coherent overall arrangement. Cohesive devices and sequence markers are used, such as 'To commence with', 'whereas', and 'On the other hand'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical, as seen in awkward transitions like 'Then the help of powerline electricity transfer to National grid' and 'its allows the water stored into the dam and in day started process again'. Paragraphing is present and logically separates the two operating modes of the station, but the overall progression within sentences can feel slightly disjointed due to grammatical errors.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student attempts an adequate range of vocabulary relevant to the diagram, utilizing terms such as 'reservoir', 'dam', 'intake', 'reversible turbines', 'generator', and 'National grid'. However, there are numerous lexical and word-form errors that detract from precision, such as 'illustrate' instead of 'illustrates', 'high level' instead of 'high-level', 'reserved' instead of 'reversed', and 'pumps' instead of 'pumping'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning of the process, these noticeable errors in word choice and morphology limit the score to a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and subordinate structures like 'whereas, when the intake was opened, water flowes towards the power station'. However, control over grammar is weak, with frequent errors including subject-verb agreement issues ('The given diagram illustrate', 'water flowes'), missing articles ('with the help of pipe', 'to National grid', 'to low level reservoir'), and incorrect prepositions or verb forms ('the process is reserved the reversible turbines work as a pumps'). These errors cause some difficulty for the reader, though the core meaning remains partially clear, placing the performance firmly in the Band 5 range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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