Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The illustration gives information about the production of electricity in hydroelectric power station during day and pumps water back to a high-level reservior at night.

Overall, during day time water flows from high-level reservior and passed through reversible turbines to operate generator and goes to low-level reservior. During night time turbines pumps water from low-level reservior into high-level reservior.

It is quite evident from the diagram that during day time, the water comes from river and goes to high-level reservior and than pass through dam. The dam opens at day time and flow of water to generate electricity goes to a huge power station. The generator is fitted in a power station consist of two power lines which goes to a national grid and reversible turbines at the lower side. When the flow of water pass through these reversible turbines it operate generator to produce electricity and pushed water to low-level reservior.

During night time reversible turbines pumps water into high-level reservior and the flow of water pumping to high-level which passed through dam and than the dam closed at night.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a two-stage process and give a clear overview of the key contrast: water generates electricity during the day and is pumped back at night. The account also includes the river, reservoirs, turbines, generator and national grid, so the main components are covered. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the intake, rather than the dam itself, is labelled as open by day and closed at night, and the description that water “pass[es] through dam” does not accurately explain its route. The generator’s connection to the turbines and the return flow to the lower reservoir could also be described more precisely. To strengthen the response, report the sequence accurately and distinguish the intake from the dam.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of daytime and nighttime operation. This helps the reader follow the two operating modes. However, progression within the daytime paragraph is not always clear, as the account moves from the river and dam to the power station, then back to the turbines. Some links are repetitive, particularly repeated use of “during day time” and “during night time,” while “and” joins several stages without showing their precise relationship. The final paragraph also repeats information from the overview. Grouping the stages in their actual order and using clearer sequence markers such as “first,” “then,” and “finally” would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” and “national grid,” which makes the subject clear. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “production of electricity” and “flow of water.” However, several choices are imprecise or repetitive: “the dam opens” mislabels the intake, and “huge power station” adds an unsupported description. “Pumps water back” communicates the idea, but “pumps water back into the high-level reservoir” is more precise. Spelling errors in “reservior” and “than” (for “then”) also reduce accuracy. Aim for consistent technical terms and avoid adding descriptive words that are not shown in the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the overview uses a useful contrast between daytime and nighttime operation. However, errors in verb forms and agreement occur in several places, for example “water flows … and passed,” “turbines pumps,” and “it operate generator.” Articles and sentence construction also need attention: “in hydroelectric power station” and “a power station consist of two power lines” are not formed accurately. Some long sentences combine multiple stages with limited punctuation, making the relationships harder to follow. Practise keeping the process in the present simple and checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. Shorter, accurately controlled sentences would improve clarity while you develop more complex structures.

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