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 gives information about process of electricity generaed by a hydroelectric power.

Overall, the diagram describes dam water flow to turbines that is located below the water level and then generator produce electicity

First, river water is stored in a dam and this water is high level reservoir and then water is releasedto the turbines that are placed below the dam and dam water released only in day and closed in night. Then water start flow to the generate electricty and water route the turbines and these turbines run the generator and produce electricity and this electricity flow through the power limes.

These power lines shift electricity to national grid. when water passed the turbines then some water during night time pumped through the pumping machines that are placed inside the turbines. After passing throuh the turbines water stored in low level reservoir that are locaed front side of the turbines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main process and include several relevant stages: water is held in the high-level reservoir, released through the turbines during the day, used to drive a generator, and sent through power lines to the national grid. You also mention the low-level reservoir and night-time pumping, so the response covers both operating modes. However, the overview focuses mainly on the daytime sequence and does not clearly summarise the key contrast: water flows downhill to generate electricity by day, then is pumped back uphill at night. The night-time explanation is also unclear, particularly “some water during night time pumped through the pumping machines.” Clarifying that the reversible turbines pump water from the low-level reservoir back to the high-level reservoir would make the main features more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an overview, and a description of the process, and it generally follows the daytime sequence before mentioning night operation. This gives the reader a basic sense of progression. However, the final paragraph moves between the national grid, night-time pumping, and the low-level reservoir without clearly showing how these stages connect. Several long sentences joined by “and” also make relationships between steps difficult to follow. For example, the sentence beginning “First, river water is stored” contains multiple stages that would be clearer as separate sentences. Use paragraphing to distinguish the daytime and night-time cycles, and employ precise links such as “subsequently” and “at night” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “high level reservoir,” “turbines,” “generator,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” which allows the basic process to be understood. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the description less clear. Examples include “dam water flow,” “pumping machines,” and “water route the turbines”; the diagram instead shows water passing through reversible turbines, which pump it back at night. There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “electicity,” “pumping,” and “locaed.” Aim for accurate process collocations and check spelling carefully. Reusing key technical terms is appropriate, but vary general verbs such as “flow,” “release,” and “pump” precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect stages using clauses and sequencing, as in “when water passed the turbines then some water during night time pumped,” but control of these structures is inconsistent. Errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur in examples such as “generator produce,” “water start flow,” and “water is stored in a dam and this water is high level reservoir.” The overview also lacks a clear grammatical relationship in “turbines that is located below the water level.” These problems sometimes make the process difficult to interpret, especially in the night-time explanation. Build accuracy with shorter sentences first, checking subject–verb agreement and verb patterns—for example, “water starts to flow” and “the turbines are located”—then combine stages using controlled subordinate clauses.

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.