Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-30
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)
The image illustrates the steps of generating electrisity in a hydroelectric power centre. There are several steps of produce electricity from water sources.
In the first half of the process, the water accumulated in a upper-level water tank. And the second half of the process mainly occured within the power station.
The process starts with a high level reservoir such as river. The river blocked by a dam and made a high amount of water content. At the day time the water sourse opened and the night it closed. While, at the day time, water flows downward direction to generate electricity, in the night it flows upward direction as the effect of pumping.
Firthermore, there is a power station in between water flow and power lines. In the power station, it contains, reversible turbines that operate generator at noon and push water into upper-level water source at night time. The power lines are started from the generator and it direct to the national grid. There is a low level water source and at the night time the water flows backwards from it and the opposite at the day time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student attempts to summarise the steps shown in the hydroelectric power station diagram, covering both the daytime and night-time processes. An overview is attempted in the opening sentences, and main features such as the high-level reservoir, dam, intake, reversible turbines, and national grid are identified. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the data; for instance, the river is misidentified as a high-level reservoir ("high level reservoir such as river"), and some descriptions are slightly confused, such as stating that at night water flows backward from the low-level reservoir and the opposite during the day. Furthermore, the information lacks a fully developed comparative structure between the day and night cycles. Therefore, this response satisfies the requirements for a Band 5.5, addressing the task partially with some under-developed and slightly inaccurate ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The text is divided into four paragraphs, which helps establish a logical structure for describing a process. Cohesive devices are used to link sentences and ideas, such as "In the first half", "The process starts with", and "Firthermore". However, referencing is sometimes unclear or mechanical, as seen in phrases like "it contains, reversible turbines that operate generator" where the pronoun antecedent is ambiguous. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas lacks smooth overall progression between the introduction of the dual-cycle process and the detailed mechanics of the power station. Overall, the organisation shows a coherent overall arrangement that fits the Band 6 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully using terms such as "reservoir", "dam", "turbines", "generator", and "national grid". However, there are noticeable spelling errors (e.g., "electrisity", "occured", "sourse", "Firthermore") and awkward word choices (e.g., "high amount of water content", "water sourse opened"). Less common lexical items are attempted, but inaccuracies in spelling and word collocation cause some distraction and occasionally impede smooth reading. This lexical profile aligns well with the Band 5 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as "The river blocked by a dam and made a high amount of water content" and "While, at the day time, water flows downward direction to generate electricity..." However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly missing auxiliary verbs and prepositions (e.g., "the river blocked by a dam", "In the power station, it contains"), incorrect prepositions ("at the day time" instead of "during the day"), and faulty passives. These errors are noticeable and require some effort from the reader to decode, though they do not completely obscure the meaning. Consequently, a Band 5.0 is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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