Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram illustrates the process in which the electricity is generated through hydroelectric power plant. Overall, the water is reserved in high-level it flows to the generator in day and during night it flows back, it is working in a recycle process.

Initially, the water from the river is stored in a high-level reserviour area and it flows through gates of the dam. The water flows in downward direction through a pipe called penstock, in day. The force of water hit the turbines, and in result the turbine rotates.

The rotation generator to produce electricity. The current produce flows into the power lines and reaches the national grid and the water is reserved at low level area. While in night, if electricity is needed then the water is drawen back from the rotatining turbines and pumping in upward direction through the pipe. The whole process of producing electricity occurs in a cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the central cycle: water moves from the high-level reservoir through the station by day, then returns uphill at night. The overview also recognises that the process is cyclical, and the account includes the generator, power lines, national grid and low-level reservoir. However, some important details are incomplete or unclear. For example, the intake is not described as open during the day and closed at night, and the night-time pumping is inaccurately qualified with “if electricity is needed”; the diagram instead shows pumping at night as part of the cycle. Explain more clearly that the turbines drive the generator by day and operate in reverse to pump water back uphill at night. This would make the main stages more fully and precisely reported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence, moving from the river and upper reservoir to electricity generation and then the night-time return of water. Paragraphing separates the overview from the process details, and “Initially” and “While in night” attempt to guide the reader through the stages. However, the overview sentence joins several ideas with commas, making the relationships difficult to follow, and the final paragraph shifts abruptly from daytime output to night-time pumping. Some references, such as “it” in the overview, are not immediately clear. Use separate, logically ordered sentences and clearer links such as “During the day” and “At night” to make the progression easier to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “turbines,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” and “downward direction” helps describe movement. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “water is reserved,” “gates of the dam,” and “the force of water hit the turbines.” There are also spelling errors in “reserviour,” “drawen,” and “rotatining,” which reduce the precision of the description. The range is sufficient to communicate the basic process, but greater control of standard technical terms would improve clarity. Prefer concise, natural expressions such as “water is stored,” “passes through the intake,” and “drives the turbines.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast between daytime generation and night-time pumping. However, errors in sentence structure and verb forms are frequent enough to make some relationships unclear. The opening overview is a comma splice, while “The rotation generator to produce electricity” lacks a clear finite verb. In “The current produce flows,” the subject–verb form is incorrect, and “the water is drawen back … and pumping” does not maintain a consistent passive construction. Articles and prepositions also need attention, as in “in day” and “in night.” Practise forming complete clauses and keeping verb forms consistent, for example: “The rotating turbines drive the generator, which produces electricity.”

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