Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-17

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 5.0)

The diagram illusrates the process in which electricity is genrated through a hydroelectric power station. Overall, from the water flows from the high reservoir to the generator in the day and in night the water is flows back with needed, to from electricity.

Initally, the water from the river is storted at a high-level reservoir. In day the gate of dam is opened, and water flows in downward direction through a pipe called as penstock. As the water flows down, causing the turbines to rotate.

The rotation of turbines, helps the generator to produce electricity and through the power line it is distributed to the national grid. The water flows is reserved at low level and when there is less

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the process as hydroelectric generation and report several relevant daytime stages: water is stored in the high-level reservoir, passes through the turbines, and electricity reaches the national grid. However, the account is incomplete and the overview is unclear: “in night the water is flows back with needed” does not accurately explain that the turbines pump water from the low-level reservoir back to the high-level reservoir. The final sentence also stops at “when there is less,” leaving the night cycle unfinished. The response is 30 words below the required minimum, which contributes to the limited coverage. To improve, give a clear overview of the day/night cycle and describe both reservoirs, the intake’s operation, and the pumping stage accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence, moving from the reservoir to the turbines, generator, and national grid, and paragraph breaks provide some organisation. However, progression is interrupted by the unclear overview and the unfinished final sentence, so the reader cannot follow the complete cycle. Linking is also limited: “As the water flows down” connects one stage to the next, but the relationships between daytime generation and nighttime pumping are not clearly signposted. The phrase “Overall, from the water…” is difficult to interpret and does not establish a reliable summary. Use a clear overview followed by a complete chronological account, and use explicit transitions such as “During the day” and “At night” to distinguish the two operating modes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “turbines,” “generator,” “power line,” and “national grid,” which helps identify the main components. There is also an attempt at more specific terminology in “penstock,” although the diagram itself labels this simply as a pipe or conduit. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “illusrates,” “genrated,” “storted,” and “reserved.” Some phrases are also unnatural or unclear, such as “with needed” and “the water flows is reserved.” These errors make parts of the description harder to understand. Check spelling carefully and choose precise process verbs such as “flows,” “drives,” “generates,” and “is pumped back.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both simple and linked sentences, for example, “As the water flows down, causing the turbines to rotate,” but control is inconsistent and errors sometimes obscure the process. The opening overview contains faulty structures in “from the water flows” and “the water is flows back”; the latter combines incompatible verb forms. Other examples include “In day the gate of dam is opened” and “The rotation of turbines, helps the generator,” where articles and sentence construction are not controlled. The final sentence is incomplete, ending with “when there is less.” Practise forming complete clauses with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent present simple passive forms where appropriate, such as “water is stored” and “the intake is opened.”

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