Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-04
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 given diagram depicts the information about generating electricity by hydroelectric power station.
Overall, it is a very complex procedure. The process intitates the collection of water with the help of dam and it ends with to generate electric power and this process generate electricity in the day only.
To begin with, the dam is stored high-level reservoir water and the water comes from the river. Afterwards, the dam is open during the day, consequently the flow of the water is dam to the powerstation. In addition to, the water reached at turbines, subsequently it rotates reversabily and operate generator, which generates electric power. Furthermore, the elecrtricity supplied via power lines in the national grid. Lastly, the turbines also release water and these water is transfered to the low-level reservoir.
However, the dam closed at night and the water is pumped out from the power station. Additionally, the pumped water recollectd to the high-level reservoir. Moreover, during the night turbines are not working. As a result, the low-level reservoir remained closed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 stages of the process, successfully identifying the dual operations of generating electricity during the day and pumping water at night. However, some ideas are under-developed or inaccurately described. For instance, the overview contains a confusing and partially inaccurate statement that the process 'ends with to generate electric power and this process generate electricity in the day only', missing the cyclical nature of the night-time pumping phase where water returns to the high-level reservoir. Furthermore, details regarding the low-level reservoir and the reversible turbines are somewhat muddled in the final paragraph, where the text claims 'the low-level reservoir remained closed,' which misinterprets the diagram's depiction of night-time operations. To reach a higher band, the overview needs to capture the cyclical closed-loop nature of the entire process more accurately, and all stages must be described with greater clarity and precision without factual distortions.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a coherent overall arrangement and attempts to organise the information logically by separating the day and night processes into distinct paragraphs. Paragraphing is utilised to divide the introduction, overview, day phase, and night phase. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical and faulty. Transitional markers such as 'To begin with', 'In addition to', and 'Furthermore' are overused or clumsily applied, leading to awkward transitions between sentences. For example, 'In addition to, the water reached at turbines' is structurally disjointed. Additionally, referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'these water is transfered', where pronoun agreement fails. To improve, you should ensure that cohesive devices connect ideas smoothly and naturally, and pay closer attention to referencing and logical progression across sentences.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less-common items such as 'procedure', 'reversabily', and 'recollectd'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors in word choice, word form, and spelling throughout the text. Examples include 'intitates' instead of initiates, 'reversabily' instead of reversibly, 'elecrtricity' instead of electricity, and 'recollectd' instead of recollected. Phrases such as 'the dam is stored high-level reservoir water' and 'the water is dam to the powerstation' demonstrate inaccurate collocations and awkward word forms that stem from limited lexical precision. To achieve a higher band, the vocabulary needs to be more precise, and spelling as well as word derivations must be checked carefully to avoid distracting the reader.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response displays a limited range of structures, relying on a mix of simple and attempted complex sentences that are frequently marred by grammar errors. There are frequent errors in verb forms, passive/active voice, and prepositions within grammatical patterns, such as 'ends with to generate', 'the dam is stored', and 'the water reached at turbines'. Article usage is also problematic, as seen in 'by hydroelectric power station' and 'to the national grid' where prepositions and articles fluctuate in accuracy. These frequent errors in basic and complex structures cause some difficulty for the reader. To move up to the next band, you should aim for a higher proportion of error-free sentences, improve your control over verb tenses and passive constructions, and ensure accurate use of prepositions and articles.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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