Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The provided diagram illustrates the process of generation of electricity in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall it can be observed that electricity production involves certain number of varied steps and complex technologies ranging from setting up a dam to transmit it to different areas.

A closer look into the diagram demonstrates the overall process involving in the production of power. Firstly, water that flows through a river is reserved in a high-level reservoir followed by a dam. The dam opens during the day to maintain the flow of water required to generate electricity whereas it remain closed at night to manage the flow of water while pumping.

Furthermore, a power station setup is there to begin with the process of power generation. In the power house there is a generator which has a reversible turbine attached at its bottom. The turbine helps to operate the generator during the day and convert the mechanical energy to electric energy by its rotation whereas during the night the turbine helps to pump excessive water into high level reservoir. Then the generated electricity is transmitted to national grid through the power lines. Therefore , this demonstrated the detailed process of production of power.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the diagram as a hydroelectric generation process and include its main day/night contrast: water drives the turbines by day, while the turbines pump water back at night. You also mention the generator, power lines and national grid, so the account covers the key purpose and several stages. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: it is the intake, not the dam, that is open by day and closed at night, and the water is stored in the high-level reservoir before passing through the intake. The overview is also general (“certain number of varied steps”) rather than summarising the system’s two-way operation. Clarifying the sequence and stating that water is reused would make the main features more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction and overview to descriptions of the reservoir and power station. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Furthermore,” and “Then” help guide the reader, and the day/night contrast gives the account a logical organising principle. However, the progression is not consistently clear: “followed by a dam” makes the relationship between the reservoir and dam difficult to understand, while “A power station setup is there to begin with” interrupts the process sequence. Some linking phrases are mechanical or do not clearly connect the ideas, and the final “Therefore” sentence repeats the conclusion without adding information. A more direct, stage-by-stage sequence and clearer references to the intake and water flow would strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbine,” “generator,” “pumping,” and “national grid.” These terms show awareness of the diagram’s subject, and the meaning is generally understandable. There are, however, several imprecise or unnatural choices: “reserved” is not the right verb for water stored in a reservoir, “setup” is vague, and “excessive water” does not accurately describe the water being returned to the upper reservoir. Phrases such as “certain number of varied steps” and “detailed process of production of power” are also wordy without adding precision. Prefer concise, standard process collocations, and use the diagram’s labels consistently to describe the components and movement of water.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast between daytime generation and nighttime pumping. Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical errors reduce accuracy. For example, “it remain closed” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “the overall process involving in the production” uses an incorrect verb pattern. Articles and sentence construction also need attention in “a power station setup is there” and “a reversible turbine attached at its bottom.” The final sentence, “Therefore, this demonstrated,” shifts tense awkwardly, and the space before the comma in “Therefore ,” is incorrect punctuation. Review agreement, verb patterns, and article use, then proofread punctuation while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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