Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)
The generation of electricity in a Hydroelectric power station.The process of storing the river water upto a head which will provide enough kinetic energy to rotate the turbines.
Main idea: The main idea of HEPS is to generate electricity by the change of energy.The kinetic energy of downstream moving water is converted into electric energy.
Comparison between day and night working: during the day hours the intakes are open from the reservoir to the turbine but in nights the water is pumped out of the turbine.
The turbine also works two way one as to operate generator and the to pump out the water.
Conclusion: At last but not the least i would like to conclude by stating that HEPS stores the river water in the reservoir to maintain the required head to geenrate enough potential energy.This is the absolute way to generate or produce electricity from the water .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response attempts to summarise the process of electricity generation in a hydroelectric power station, but it falls short in several key areas. While it touches upon the reservoir, turbines, and the day/night cycle, the structure lacks the conventional format of an academic Task 1 report. The text is broken into fragmented headings like 'Main idea', 'Comparison between day and night working', and 'Conclusion' rather than a cohesive report. Furthermore, the description contains inaccuracies regarding the physics of the process, such as confusing potential and kinetic energy in the conclusion. The overview is weak, failing to clearly highlight the cyclical nature of the day and night operations. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
The organisational structure is problematic for an Academic Task 1 response. Instead of flowing paragraphs, the text uses non-standard sub-headings like 'Main idea:' and 'Conclusion:' which disrupts the logical progression expected in a report. Cohesive devices are used minimally or inappropriately, as seen in conversational phrasing such as 'At last but not the least i would like to conclude'. While the overall topic is discernible, the lack of smooth transitions between the stages of the diagram means the information feels disjointed and mechanical. Paragraphing is not used appropriately for a process diagram summary.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for discussing the topic, successfully using terms such as 'hydroelectric power station', 'kinetic energy', 'reservoir', 'turbines', and 'generator'. However, there are noticeable limitations and inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, writing 'upto a head' and 'geenrate enough potential energy' contains spelling errors ('geenrate') and awkward phrasing. Less common lexical items are attempted, but control is inconsistent. The range is sufficient to convey basic meaning, but lexical errors prevent a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The writing exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is weak. There are frequent punctuation and capitalization errors, such as starting sentences immediately after periods without spaces ('station.The process', 'energy.The kinetic', 'generator and the to pump') and lowercase 'i'. Grammatical slips include missing prepositions or articles ('works two way one as to operate generator and the to pump out the water'). While some sentences are clear, the accumulation of structural and punctuation errors causes some difficulty for the reader.
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