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 provided diagram depicts how electricity is produced from hydroelectric power station.The whole process is illistrated through a diagram.

The process starts from river water.The river water is collected in high level reservoir behind the dam.This power station performs differently in the day and the night.It is reversible two stage process.In daytime the barrier is opened for flow of water. In daytime flow of water is downward from high reservoir to low reservoir to produce electricity.Then turbines perform their duties to produce electricity.Then comes a power station where a huge generator exists. Electricity is crossed from generator to power lines and afterward national grid. Then water comes in the low level reservoir.Here flow of water is different now.In night water flow back to high level resevoir through pumping. This water is collected in high level reservoir for the next day. So this is the whole procedure to produce electricity through hydroelectric power station.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages and the key day–night cycle: water moves from the high-level reservoir through the turbines to generate electricity, then returns to the upper reservoir at night. You also mention the generator, power lines and national grid, so the account is relevant and covers much of the process. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the intake is described as a “barrier” being opened, and the explanation does not clearly state that the turbines pump water back uphill at night. The overview is also weak, since “This power station performs differently” does not clearly summarise the two operating modes. A more precise overview and clearer explanation of the reversible turbines would make the key features more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows the broad sequence from the river and upper reservoir to electricity transmission, then describes the return of water at night. Time markers such as “In daytime” and “In night” help distinguish the two phases. However, the ideas are presented as one continuous paragraph, and progression is weakened by repeated or abrupt transitions, including “Then,” “Then comes,” and “Here flow of water is different now.” The opening repeats the idea that the process is shown in a diagram, while the closing sentence adds little. Organise the response into a brief overview and a clearly ordered description of daytime and nighttime operation, using references such as “the water” and “this flow” more consistently.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “turbines,” “generator,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” and terms such as “downward” and “pumping” help convey movement. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the process harder to follow. For example, “the barrier is opened” is less precise than naming the intake, and “electricity is crossed from generator” does not express transmission naturally. There are also spelling errors in “illistrated” and “resevoir,” and repeated use of “water” and “produce electricity.” Use precise process verbs and check spelling, while varying wording only where the meaning remains exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You communicate the basic sequence using mostly simple sentences and some attempts at longer structures, such as “In daytime flow of water is downward from high reservoir to low reservoir to produce electricity.” However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between stages unclear. Examples include missing articles in “from hydroelectric power station” and “in high level reservoir,” the awkward construction “Then comes a power station where a huge generator exists,” and the incorrect phrase “In night water flow back.” Sentence boundaries and spacing after full stops also need attention. Practise accurate articles, prepositions, verb forms and sentence construction, then combine ideas into a few controlled complex sentences rather than relying on repeated short statements.

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