Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

The diagram illustrates how electricity is produced in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, there are two main steps involved to generate the electricity. During the day, Dam stored the water from river into high level reservoir then moves toward power station with the help of national grid. Due to the lowest demand of electricity at night, flow of water during pumping toward high-level reservoir.

The process start from moving water from river to dam through high-level reservoir, in day time, flow of water towards power station for generation of electricity moves through power lines to national grid.

At night, generator pumping the water into

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the topic and mention the day and night modes, which are central features of the diagram. However, the account is only partial and leaves the process unfinished: the final sentence stops at “At night, generator pumping the water into”. Some details are also inaccurate or unclear. The dam does not store water “from river into” the reservoir; the river feeds the high-level reservoir, and water then passes through the intake and turbines. The national grid receives electricity via power lines; it does not help water move to the power station. The overview does not clearly summarise the cycle, including water returning to the high-level reservoir at night. The response is also 46 words below the required minimum. Describe the full day and night sequence accurately, with a clear overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening statement, an overview, and descriptions of daytime and nighttime operation. The references to “During the day” and “At night” give the reader a simple time-based structure. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the overview and the next paragraph repeat the daytime sequence without clarifying the stages, and the final sentence is incomplete. Connections between steps are often missing, so it is unclear how water moves from the reservoir through the turbines and then to the low-level reservoir. Use separate, complete paragraphs for the overview and the process, and link each stage in order with clear references such as “after passing through the turbines” and “at night, in reverse.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “hydroelectric power station,” “high-level reservoir,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” so the topic is generally recognisable. There is also some useful variation in describing movement, such as “moves toward” and “flow of water.” However, several phrases are imprecise or awkward, including “two main steps,” “with the help of national grid,” and “lowest demand of electricity.” The repeated use of “water” and “flow” also limits the range, while “generator pumping” misidentifies the component performing the pumping. Choose precise process verbs and collocations, for example, say that water passes through the turbines and that the reversible turbines pump it back uphill at night.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, and the opening sentence is clear: “The diagram illustrates how electricity is produced in a hydroelectric power station.” However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make the sequence hard to understand. Examples include “Dam stored the water,” “The process start,” and “generator pumping,” which show problems with articles, verb forms, and sentence construction. The clause “Due to the lowest demand of electricity at night, flow of water during pumping toward high-level reservoir” is not a complete sentence, and the final sentence is also unfinished. Work on complete clauses, subject–verb agreement, and consistent present simple forms for process descriptions. Aim to make each stage a full sentence before attempting more complex structures.

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