Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Diagram represents the process of electricity production in hydroelctric power station. It is a process that comprises of multiple steps from collection of water from the river to its flow directed towards power station ,which in turn generate elctricity. This electricity is then supplied to national grid to be used further on.

It begins with saving water in high-level reservoir that is connected to the Dam. Dam is open in day time for intake. From Dam, this water is transported to power station only in day time.

Flow of water to Dam and power station is closed at night. Power station contains generator and turbines.While in day time, the water is converted into electricity at power station by means of the generators. Power station has reversible turbines embeded in it, Which means it operates generator at day time while at night, it pumps water back into high level reservoir.

At day time, some water is directed to flow towards low level reservoir and this water is flowed back to high level reservoir at night. The produced electricity is then transffered to National grid through power lines

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main cycle and include the key day–night contrast: water passes from the high-level reservoir through the turbines by day, while the turbines pump it back at night. You also mention the generator, power lines and national grid, so the account is relevant and broadly complete. The opening gives a general summary, but it could state the defining feature more precisely: this is a reversible, two-way process that generates electricity during the day and restores water to the upper reservoir at night. Some details are unclear or inaccurate: the dam itself is not described as opening; the intake is open by day and closed at night. The explanation of the water’s route could also be more fully and clearly developed to show its passage to the low-level reservoir before pumping back uphill.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence, moving from the reservoir and intake to the power station, then to the low-level reservoir and the return flow. The opening also signals the overall process. However, the progression is weakened by repetition: the day/night operation is explained in several separate sentences, and the final paragraph returns to the daytime flow after discussing the turbines. This makes the cycle less easy to follow than it could be. Some references are also unclear, particularly “Dam is open in day time” and “this water,” which do not identify the intake or the water’s destination accurately. Organise the account into a clear overview followed by the daytime route and then the nighttime return, using precise links between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” “power lines” and “national grid.” These terms help convey the subject, and the range is adequate for describing the diagram. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “saving water,” “water is transported,” “water is flowed back” and “embeded in it.” “Dam is open” also uses the wrong term for the labelled component: the intake, rather than the dam, is open during the day. Spelling errors such as “hydroelctric,” “elctricity” and “transffered” are noticeable. Aim for precise process verbs and standard spelling; for example, say water is “stored” and “flows” through the turbines.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “which in turn generate electricity” and a contrast between daytime and nighttime operation. The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “a process that comprises of” has an incorrect construction, while “which in turn generate” has subject–verb disagreement. Articles and number are also inconsistent in “in high-level reservoir” and “generator and turbines.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation need attention: there is no space after the full stop in “turbines.While,” and the comma before “which” is separated by an unnecessary space. Review agreement, articles and sentence punctuation, and check that each sentence clearly identifies its subject and action.

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.