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)

In today's time finding ways to use renewable resouces and using it has become essential as the non renewable resources are scanty also it affects the environment by harming it.

The diagram shows how water can be used to generate electricity which is called hydroelectricity. In order to generate electricity from water the process with the storage of water which is from the dams which is at a high level. There after the gates of the dam are opend in order to allow the water to flow at a high speed which then hits the turbine and the fast flow of the water spins it, there after the generator produces electricity with the help of the spining turbines. The water then exits through a pipe at a low lever reservoir and is stored there for the next cycle. The electricity is then supplied to the city via the power lines. The simillar kind of process takes place at night where the on,y diffrence is that the water is pushed from the lower level reservoir.

Overall we can say that hydroelectricy is an important and eco friendly eay to generate electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main subject and describe the daytime route from the high-level reservoir through the turbines to the low-level reservoir, as well as the reverse pumping process at night. This gives the reader a relevant account of the cycle. However, the explanation is only partly complete: it does not clearly state that the generator’s electricity travels by power lines to the national grid, and it says the water exits through a pipe without explaining that the same reversible turbines pump it back uphill at night. The opening comments about renewable resources and the final claim that hydroelectricity is eco-friendly do not report features of the diagram. Focus the overview on the two operating modes and make the key stages and electricity transmission more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence: it introduces the process, describes daytime generation, then mentions the night-time cycle. This basic organisation helps the reader follow the general idea. However, the progression is weakened by a broad introductory paragraph and a separate concluding opinion, neither of which advances the diagram description. Within the main paragraph, repeated links such as “there after” and “which then” make the account feel mechanical, while several stages are packed into one long sentence. Use a clear overview followed by a logically ordered description of daytime and night-time operation, and vary linking devices to show sequence and contrast more precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “turbine,” “generator,” and “power lines,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or repetitive: “gates” is used where the diagram labels an “intake,” “hits the turbine” is informal, and “supplied to the city” is less accurate than describing transmission to the national grid. Spelling errors such as “resouces,” “opend,” “spining,” and “simillar” are noticeable, and “hydroelectricy” is misspelled. Build a more precise set of process terms and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentences and uses sequencing clauses, for example, “The water then exits through a pipe … and is stored there.” However, complex sentences are often poorly controlled, and frequent errors make parts of the description difficult to read. The opening sentence has an unclear structure (“finding ways to use … and using it has become essential”), while “the process with the storage of water which is from the dams which is at a high level” contains faulty clause construction and agreement. There are also run-on sentences joined by commas, and the night-time sentence has an unclear construction (“where the only difference is that the water is pushed”). Use shorter, complete sentences and check clause structure, agreement, and punctuation.

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.