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 this I will tell you about hydroelectric power station. How they work. How they generate electrictiy.

This plant is build near the river, beacuse this station needs consistant water supply with high flow. Firstly, the water is stored in the dam, beacuse in any case if the river is not operational. The power station have their own water reservior for the use of making electricity.

In the second step, the dam is open in the morning, the water directly travel towards poerw generator. The pressure of the water start the machine who make electricity. After crossing the generator the water is stored in the low-level reservior.

The generator connected with the power lines, and the power line send freshly electricity to the main grid.

In night time the water is pumped back to the dam for future use. They do this process again and again for making electricity. This process also help power stattion in saving water.The power turbines use in both direction. In day time they make electricity, and night time help to pump water into the dam.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You describe the main cycle: water moves from the upper reservoir through the station to the lower reservoir during the day, and is pumped back at night. You also mention the generator, power lines and national grid, so several key components are included. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the diagram shows the intake opening during the day and closing at night, rather than the dam simply being “open in the morning”; water is stored in reservoirs, not “in the dam”; and the river feeds the high-level reservoir. The claim that the river may be “not operational” and that the process saves water is not shown. There is no clear overview of the day/night contrast. Focus on accurately summarising the depicted stages and avoid unsupported explanations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence, using “Firstly,” “In the second step,” and references to daytime and night-time operation. The paragraphs also broadly separate the process into stages, making the account possible to follow. However, progression is not consistently clear: the opening fragments (“How they work. How they generate…”) do not establish an overview, and the explanation of the generator and power lines interrupts the sequence before the night-time cycle is introduced. Some links are repetitive or imprecise, such as “They do this process again and again,” where “they” has no clear reference. Organise the report around the complete daytime flow, followed by the reverse night-time flow, and use clear references to each component.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “generator,” “power lines,” “low-level reservoir,” “pumped back,” and “turbines.” This gives the reader a basic understanding of the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, including “the dam is open,” “water directly travel,” and “freshly electricity.” Spelling errors such as “electrictiy,” “poerw,” “reservior,” and “stattion” are noticeable and reduce precision. Some wording is also informal or vague, for example “make electricity” and “do this process again and again.” Use standard technical terms consistently, such as “intake,” “flows,” “generates electricity,” and “national grid,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response mainly uses simple sentences and attempts a few longer structures, such as “In night time the water is pumped back to the dam for future use.” However, frequent errors in sentence formation and basic grammar make the writing less controlled. Examples include the fragments “How they work” and “How they generate…,” the agreement error “The power station have,” and the verb-form errors “the water directly travel” and “The pressure … start.” Articles and sentence structure are also problematic in “The generator connected with the power lines.” These errors sometimes make relationships between stages unclear. Practise complete sentences, subject–verb agreement, and consistent present-simple forms for describing processes; then check each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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