Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The diagram demonstartes the process of generating electricity through a hydroelectric power station in the day time and how it operates at night.

Overall, in day time, the process of generating electricity initiated with the moving of water from high level reservoir to the lower level. In contrast, at night, the water pumped to the upper reservoir from low level to reuse it for next day.

On the one hand, during the daytime, water stored behind the dam started to move downhill through the pipe and this movement is also assist with the opening of intake at the same time. In addition, the water from pipe reached at the site of power station to generate electricity and transmitted the electricity towards the national grid via power lines.

On the other hand, at the night time, water started to move upward hill from low reservoir level through the same pipe. Moreover, at night time, intake is closed to restrict the flow of water from high to lower reservoir. This reversible process continue for the whole night to stored maximum quantity of the water for reuse it next day.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the main contrast between daytime generation and nighttime pumping, and the overview clearly identifies water moving from the high-level reservoir to the lower one by day, then returning at night. It also accurately mentions the dam, intake, power station, power lines and national grid. This gives the account a clear focus on the process as a whole. Some details are less fully explained: for example, the reversible turbines operate the generator during the day and pump water back uphill at night, but their role is only implied rather than clearly stated. The claim that the system stores a “maximum quantity” is not shown in the diagram. More precise reporting of the turbines’ two functions would strengthen the description.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The four-paragraph structure is effective: an introduction, an overview, and separate descriptions of daytime and nighttime operation make the sequence easy to follow. The contrast markers “In contrast,” “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help distinguish the two operating modes, while “In addition” and “Moreover” connect supporting details. The progression is generally logical, from water movement to electricity transmission and then to the return flow. Some linking is slightly mechanical, however, and repeated references to “at night time” make the final paragraph less fluid. The relationship between the turbines and the water’s return route could also be made more explicit so that the process is connected without relying on the reader to infer it.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “dam,” “intake,” “transmitted,” “national grid” and “reversible process.” These terms make the subject clear, and “downhill” and “upward hill” attempt to describe the direction of flow. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “moving of water,” “reached at the site,” and “stored maximum quantity” do not sound natural in this context. There is also a spelling error in “demonstartes.” Use more precise process language, such as “flows,” “passes through,” and “is pumped back,” and check spelling and collocation. The meaning remains understandable, but more consistent precision would improve the description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “In contrast, at night…” and the longer sentence describing electricity transmission. The main stages remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “the process … initiated” needs a passive form (“is initiated”), while “the water pumped” needs an auxiliary (“the water is pumped”). In “this movement is also assist,” the verb form is incorrect, and “This reversible process continue” has a subject–verb agreement error. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “from high level reservoir” and “reached at the site.” More accurate verb forms and sentence patterns would make the account smoother and more controlled.

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