Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-15

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 illustrates the process of electricity that is produced by hydroelectric power station.

Overall this process have some stages that contain River,Dam,power station Generator .These three process produced electricity. This process also contains level of water in day and night.

First of all water takes from river and then it reservoir with high level into dam. The dams are open at day for intake of water and closed at night. At day time water takes from dam this flow of water generate electricity at day time. And then it sends to power station generators to generate electricity. And this electricity transfered into power lines then to national grid.

On the other hand at night water pump into high level reservoir by reversible turbines and at day time water pump into low level reservior. At day time turbines used for generating electricity while at night water pump into reversible turbines.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main subject and include several relevant stages, including water moving from the high-level reservoir through the power station to the national grid, as well as the turbines’ different roles by day and night. However, the account is only partly accurate and some key relationships are unclear. For example, “the dams are open at day” misreports the diagram: it is the intake that is open during the day and closed at night. The description also says water is pumped into the low-level reservoir during the day, whereas daytime flow reaches it from the turbines; at night, water is pumped back to the high-level reservoir. The overview lists components rather than clearly summarising the cycle. State the two-way day/night process accurately and distinguish the reservoirs’ roles.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the daytime and nighttime processes. Sequencing phrases such as “First of all” and “On the other hand” help signal movement through the explanation. However, progression is weakened by unclear or repetitive connections. The overview’s “These three process produced electricity” does not clearly explain how the stages relate, and the final paragraph repeats the day/night contrast without presenting the cycle in a consistent order. Some links, such as “And then,” are also mechanical. Organise the body around the daytime flow followed by the nighttime return, and use clear references to the water, intake, turbines, and reservoirs so each stage connects naturally to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “intake,” “reversible turbines,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” which helps identify the main components. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the description imprecise, such as “the process of electricity,” “water takes from river,” and “water pump into reversible turbines.” Spelling and word-form errors, including “transfered” and “reservior,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process verbs and standard collocations: water flows, is channelled, or is pumped; electricity is transmitted to the grid. Reusing accurate technical terms is more effective than repeating general phrases such as “at day time” and “this process.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and linked sentences, and the reader can generally follow the broad sequence. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “this process have some stages” needs subject–verb agreement, while “water takes from river and then it reservoir” lacks the correct passive forms and a complete verb phrase. “At day time water takes from dam” similarly needs a clear subject and passive construction. Several sentences begin with “And,” creating fragments or awkward links, and punctuation around lists is inconsistent. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions—such as “water is released” and “electricity is transmitted”—alongside short, complete sentences before adding more complex clauses.

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