Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-10

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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the information about how electricity generated in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the process have two main phases working to day and night,on a high level reservoir,underground generators,and a lower-level river to produce electricity daily.

During the day,water from high level reservior flows doenwards through an intake valve into the penstocl. Driven by gravity, the rushing water apins the turbine, which in truns powers the generator to produce electricity. This energy is subqaulty directed to the national grid for public consumption. Following this, the water is relased into a lower-level river or reservior for storage.

Conversely, during the night when overall electricity demand is low, the perocess reverses.Excess electricity from the grid powers the reversible pump to push the stored water back up from the lower river through the penstock into the high level reservoir. This cycle ensures that water is conctantly recycled, maintaining a reliable energy supply throughout both peak and off-peak hours.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear account of both operating phases and identifies the central cycle: water flows down during the day to generate electricity, then is pumped back at night. The overview also signals the day/night contrast, and the sequence from reservoir through the turbine and generator to the grid is broadly accurate. However, some details are imprecise or added beyond the diagram: it describes a “lower-level river” rather than the low-level reservoir, and mentions public consumption, peak/off-peak demand and a reliable supply, none of which is shown. The diagram specifically labels the intake as open by day and closed at night, and the turbines as operating the generator by day and pumping at night; including these would make the account more precise and fully grounded in the visual.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for daytime and nighttime operation. This gives the reader a clear overall progression, and “Conversely” effectively signals the reversal of the process. The sequence within each phase is also generally easy to follow. To strengthen cohesion further, make the links between stages more exact: “Following this” is vague when introducing the water’s movement to the low-level reservoir, and “This cycle” refers broadly to several preceding details. The overview’s list of “high level reservoir, underground generators, and a lower-level river” is not a clear summary of the process and interrupts the otherwise logical progression. More precise referencing and transitions would make the organisation smoother and less dependent on general linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response attempts relevant process vocabulary, including “intake valve,” “penstock,” “reversible pump,” “generator” and “national grid,” and phrases such as “the process reverses” help describe the cycle. However, spelling errors are conspicuous, including “reservior,” “doenwards,” “apins,” “subqaulty,” “relased” and “conctantly,” and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate. For example, the diagram shows a low-level reservoir, not a “lower-level river,” and “underground generators” is not an appropriate description of the layout. “Rushing water” and “public consumption” are also less precise than the task requires. Check technical terms carefully and favour accurate, natural process language over embellishment.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a complex time clause beginning “During the night when overall electricity demand is low” and a contrastive sentence introduced by “Conversely.” The main sequence remains understandable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are frequent enough to affect control: “the process have two main phases” should be “the process has two main phases,” while “how electricity generated” needs a passive form such as “how electricity is generated.” The opening overview also has an unclear construction, and punctuation is faulty in “reverses.Excess.” Aim to produce accurate basic clauses first, then add subordinate clauses; check subject–verb agreement, articles and sentence boundaries during revision.

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