Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-12

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 how the electricity is created in a hydroelectric power station with the help of water passage.

Overall, the electricity is created by the help of sending the high level reserved water towards the hydroelectric power station. Although, with the help of generator the power is suuplied.

In hydroeletric power station, there are various steps followed to create electricity. Firstly, the dam which contains high level of water, released during the day time by opening the reservoir intake. While, the water flows to power station, in which the generator is placed. Reversible turbines are available which operates the generator in daylight, help to generate electricity with the help of water. When the night appears, it pumps the low-level reserved water into high level reservoir. Hence, the water pumped to high-level reservoir with the help of reversible turbines that are connected with the generator. The generator passes the power lines to the national grid.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the process as a cycle and cover its main operating stages: water is released from the high-level reservoir during the day, drives turbines and a generator, and is pumped back at night. The overview also recognises the generator’s role in supplying electricity. This gives the response a relevant, reasonably complete account. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: the water is not released by “opening the reservoir intake” but by opening the intake below the dam, and the account does not clearly state that daytime water flows to the low-level reservoir. The final sentence also places the generator as the source of power lines without explaining that electricity is transmitted to the national grid. More precise coverage of these connections would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a sequence of process details. “Firstly” and “When the night appears” help signal the change from daytime generation to nighttime pumping, so the reader can follow the broad cycle. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear. “Although” does not introduce a contrasting idea in the overview, and “While” begins a fragment-like clause rather than a complete sentence. The order of information also becomes confusing when the generator and turbines are introduced before the water’s route to the low-level reservoir is explained. Use clearer links such as “During the day” and “At night,” and organise the stages in the order shown, including the return flow to the lower reservoir.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “intake,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” and “national grid,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “pumps the low-level reserved water.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive: “reserved water” should be “stored water,” “water passage” is unnatural here, and “electricity is created by the help of” is awkward. Spelling errors such as “suuplied” and “hydroeletric” also reduce accuracy. Aim for concise, conventional process language—for example, “water flows through the turbines” and “electricity is transmitted to the national grid”—and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a time clause beginning “When the night appears” and a relative clause describing the turbines. The main stages are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. “Although” is used without a suitable contrasting clause, while “While, the water flows…” is punctuated as a sentence fragment. There are also agreement and verb-form problems in “turbines … which operates” and “help to generate,” where the subject relationship is unclear. Articles and sentence boundaries need attention as well. Practise forming complete clauses and checking subject–verb agreement; for example, “The reversible turbines operate the generator during the day” is clearer and grammatically controlled.

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