Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-07

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 process diagram demonstrates how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the process for electric power started from intake water from river followed by flow of water during day and night. It ends with the stage of production of electric power.

Looking at the details it is clear that initially water is moved from river into dam from where it is taken during day time because at night it is closed. After that during sunlight water flowed to generate electricity. However during night it also moved for pumping purpose. Next,dam water reached at reversible low- level turbines that is an operator generator , whereas at night it is pumped into high-level reservoir.

Then, in the next stage it is carried into electrical generator which is a power station through which water moved to final stages for production of electricity. Water is processed in power lines and eventually converted into national grid.This electricity is provided to customers for their convenience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a hydroelectric process and mention the main day/night contrast: water flows down to generate electricity by day and is pumped back at night. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: saying the process “ends with the stage of production” does not capture the cycle, and the account does not clearly explain that water passes from the high-level reservoir through the turbines to the low-level reservoir before being returned. Some details are misreported, including “reversible low-level turbines”; the turbines are reversible, while the low-level reservoir is separate. The claim that electricity is provided to customers is not shown. To strengthen the response, describe the complete cycle accurately and distinguish the generator, power lines and national grid.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an introduction, an overview and two detail paragraphs, and it uses sequencing expressions such as “initially,” “After that” and “Next.” These give the reader some sense of order. However, progression is not consistently clear because stages are combined or repeated, and some references are difficult to follow. For example, “Then, in the next stage it is carried into electrical generator” does not make clear whether “it” refers to water or electricity, while the generator is described as a power station. The contrast marker “However” also does not clearly connect the day and night operations. Organise the account in the order water travels, then explain the reverse night-time flow, using precise references and fewer repetitive transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “intake,” “reversible,” “generator,” “power lines” and “national grid,” which helps identify key components. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, sometimes obscuring the process. “Water is moved from river into dam” does not describe the diagram accurately: water enters a reservoir, and the dam contains it. “Water is processed in power lines” also misrepresents the role of the lines, which transmit electricity. Phrases such as “during sunlight” and “for their convenience” are not natural or useful in this process description. Aim for precise verbs such as “flows,” “passes through,” “drives” and “is transmitted,” and use the diagram’s component names consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause with “whereas” and a sentence beginning “After that.” However, errors in sentence structure, tense, agreement and punctuation are frequent enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “Overall, the process for electric power started from intake water from river” has an incomplete and awkward structure, while “turbines that is an operator generator” has agreement and clause-formation problems. Tense also shifts between “is moved,” “flowed” and “reached” without a clear reason. Commas are missing after transitions, as in “Next,dam.” Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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