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)

The diagram illustrates the process of electricity generation in a particular hydroelectric power station.

overall, the flow of the river is obstructed by a Dam and then the river water is being conserved in a High-level reservior through which the water passes to the power station and eventually electricity generates.

The water intake from the high-level reservior to the power station opes at day and closes at night.Furthermore , water passes through a narrow passage which is connected to high-level reservior and reaches to small reversible turbines in the power station which operates generator at day when the water flow is straight and pumps water in reversible direction into high-level reservior at night .The water flows through the turbines and reaches to a generator and eventually, the power generates which passes through a power line and national grid.The rest of the water from reversible turbines then be reserved into a low-level reservior during daytime while at night the water flows in back direction to pump water into high-level reservior.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main operating cycle and correctly describe the intake opening during the day and closing at night, the turbines driving the generator, and water returning from the low-level reservoir at night. This gives the reader a generally accurate account of both electricity generation and pumping. However, the overview is not clearly separated or fully precise: saying the river is “obstructed by a Dam” and water is “conserved” does not clearly explain that the river feeds the high-level reservoir. Some details are also unclear or under-developed, such as the route from the turbines to the low-level reservoir. A clearer overview contrasting the daytime flow that generates electricity with the nighttime reverse flow that restores water to the upper reservoir would make the key features more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information follows a broadly sensible sequence, moving from the upper reservoir through the power station and then describing the nighttime cycle. Linking expressions such as “Furthermore,” “eventually,” and “while at night” help connect stages and show contrast. However, the response is presented as one continuous block, so the overview and process details are not clearly distinguished. Some links are mechanical or confusing: “through which the water passes to the power station” is followed by several stages in a long sentence, and “The water flows through the turbines” repeats information without clarifying the sequence. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and the detailed cycle, and make each stage’s connection to the next explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” “power line,” and “national grid,” which allows you to describe the diagram’s main components. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “narrow passage” and “reversible direction.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural, including “electricity generates,” “water being conserved,” and “small reversible turbines.” Spelling errors such as “reservior” and “opes” also reduce precision. Aim for standard process collocations and accurate technical labels; for example, describe water as being stored, electricity as being generated, and the turbines as reversible rather than describing their direction as reversible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, using clauses with “which,” “when,” and “while” to explain how the system operates. The meaning is generally recoverable, but some sentence structures are difficult to follow, particularly the long sentence beginning “Furthermore, water passes through a narrow passage…” Several errors in verb forms and agreement affect accuracy: “the water is being conserved” is awkward in this process description, “which operates generator” lacks an article, and “the power generates” uses an incorrect construction. Punctuation and sentence boundaries also need attention, especially the missing space after “night.” Use present simple consistently for a process and divide long explanations into shorter, controlled sentences.

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