Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-13

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 diagram demonstrates the process involved generating electricity in a hydroelectric power stattion.

Overall, the process starts with water stored in a dam, where water pumped into generator during day time. In generator, reversible turbines operate through the high pressure of water that results in generating electricty, then it transfered though national grid by power lines.

The process begins by water flow from dam in a day time; a high-level reservoir pumps water with exception pressure into a power station, where generator has reversible turbines responsible for rotating, which generates electricty. After generating electricity, the power lines are attached from generator to national grid, which helps to tranfer electricity. The water used in the process of generating electricity in the power station it converts into a low-level reservoir.

During the night, the turbines pumps water backward into a high-level reservoir from low-level reservoir back towards the dam, where intake supposed to be closed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main operating stages and include the important day–night contrast: water flows from the high-level reservoir through the station by day, while it is pumped back at night. You also report the generator’s connection to the national grid and the low-level reservoir. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate. The opening overview says water is “pumped into generator during day time,” whereas the diagram shows water driving the turbines during the day; pumping occurs at night. The river feeding the upper reservoir and the intake’s day-open/night-closed operation could also be stated more precisely. The main features are relevant, but the overview and some stages need clearer, more accurate explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by a description of daytime operation and a final paragraph about night-time pumping. This gives the reader a basic route through the process. However, progression is not consistently clear because the overview and the next paragraph repeat information, and some links between stages are difficult to follow. For example, “a high-level reservoir pumps water” makes the sequence unclear, while “After generating electricity” does not clearly identify the water’s movement to the low-level reservoir. The connectors “Overall,” “The process begins,” and “During the night” help, but cohesion is sometimes mechanical or imprecise. Organise the stages in a single clear sequence and use references such as “this water” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “backward” and “transfer.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: a reservoir does not “pump” water, and “exception pressure” does not clearly describe the water’s force. Repetition of “water,” “generator,” and “electricity” also limits flexibility. Spelling errors such as “stattion,” “electricty,” and “tranfer” are noticeable and reduce precision. Aim for accurate process verbs such as “flows,” “drives,” and “is pumped,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including a relative clause in “turbines responsible for rotating” and a time clause beginning “During the night.” However, control is uneven, and several sentence structures make the process difficult to interpret. For example, “where water pumped into generator during day time” is missing a finite verb, while “then it transfered” has an incorrect verb form and unclear reference. In “The water used … it converts into a low-level reservoir,” the clause structure is faulty. Subject–verb agreement also needs attention in “the turbines pumps.” Practise building complete clauses with a clear subject and verb, and check tense, agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries when describing each stage.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.