Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

This given diagram shows that how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

As the diagram shows, the process of generated electricity start from the water of river. The water of river is reached on high level reservoir to the dam. Moreover, usually in a day the intake of water is open & in night time it's closed. The flow of water to generate electricity in a day is going to power station (generator). On the other hand the flow of water goes to backward where the the intake is coming during pumping in the night. After the water is goes into the power station where the electricity is generating it has reversible turbines where in a day time it operates generator and in in night time it pump water into high level reservoir. Near the generator there are power lines through national grid.

To conclude, This is how from river to through reversible turbines to generator electricity in generated in hydroelectric power station.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main subject and include several relevant stages, including the river, reservoir, intake, turbines, generator and national grid. You also note the important day/night contrast: the intake opens by day and closes at night, while the turbines generate electricity during the day and pump water back at night. However, the sequence is not always accurately or clearly explained: for example, “the water of river is reached on high level reservoir to the dam” obscures how the river feeds the reservoir, and the route to the low-level reservoir is largely missing. The response also lacks a clear overview of the system’s two-way cycle. To strengthen it, summarise the overall day-generation/night-pumping pattern first, then describe each route in order with the reservoirs’ roles made explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic progression from the river and reservoir to the power station, and the contrast marker “On the other hand” signals a shift to the night-time process. A separate concluding sentence is also included. However, the sequence becomes difficult to follow because several stages are compressed into long sentences, and links between them are sometimes unclear. For instance, “After the water is goes into the power station where the electricity is generating it has reversible turbines” combines the water’s movement, electricity generation and turbine function without clear relationships. The conclusion largely repeats the opening rather than summarising the cycle. Use distinct paragraphs for an overview and the process details, and connect each stage with precise sequencing and contrast language.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary such as “reservoir,” “intake,” “reversible turbines,” “generator” and “national grid,” which helps identify the diagram’s components. There is also an attempt to describe movement and contrast through phrases such as “flow of water” and “On the other hand.” However, vocabulary is repetitive and several word combinations are unnatural or imprecise, including “the water of river,” “the flow of water goes to backward,” and “electricity is generating.” These choices sometimes make the process harder to understand. Aim for accurate process collocations and vary repeated wording: for example, describe water as flowing or being channelled, and distinguish clearly between generating electricity and pumping water. This would make the account more precise and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas using clauses such as “where in a day time it operates generator,” and you use present-tense forms appropriate for describing a process. However, the range of sentence structures is limited, and frequent errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “the process of generated electricity start,” “the water is goes,” and “electricity is generating.” The sentence beginning “After the water…” also lacks a clear grammatical structure. Practise using accurate present simple passive forms for process descriptions, such as “water is channelled” and “electricity is generated,” alongside shorter active sentences. Check subject–verb agreement and remove unnecessary repeated words when editing.

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