Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-18

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 below illustrates the process of electricity generation. It comprised of various steps including flow of water from river to high level reservoir, which is then stored in dam. This stored water flowed to power station to generate electricity.

It is a cyclic procedure which allows two way flow of water depending on the time of day. At first, water from dam is directed to flow to power station in daytime. Power station is made up of generator and reversible turbines. Generator

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the general subject and mention that the process is cyclical, with water moving from the reservoir to the power station during the day. However, the response addresses the task only minimally: it stops before explaining the full cycle, including the low-level reservoir, the return of water at night, and the roles of the reversible turbines and generator. The statement that water is “stored in dam” also misrepresents the diagram: it is held in the high-level reservoir behind the dam. No clear, complete overview of the day-and-night operation is provided. The response is 83 words, below the required 150, which leaves most key stages unreported. To improve, summarise both operating modes and include the route to the national grid.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: the opening introduces the process, and “At first” begins a description of the daytime stage. The reference to a “cyclic procedure” also gives the reader a broad organising idea. However, the progression is incomplete and ends abruptly at “Generator,” so the sequence cannot be followed through to the night-time pumping stage. Connections between stages are sparse, and the second paragraph does not develop the cycle it introduces. Use a clear overview followed by a chronological account, with linking phrases such as “During the day,” “After passing through,” and “At night” to make the two directions of flow easy to track.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some relevant process vocabulary, including “generation,” “reservoir,” “power station,” “generator,” and “reversible turbines.” “Cyclic procedure” is also a useful attempt to describe the system’s repeated operation. However, the range is limited by the short response, and some wording is imprecise or awkward: “flow of water from river to high level reservoir” and “stored in dam” do not clearly express the diagram’s arrangement. More precise process terms such as “is channelled,” “passes through,” “low-level reservoir,” and “is pumped back” would help describe the stages accurately. Aim to vary verbs and use standard compound forms such as “high-level reservoir” consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, for example, “It is a cyclic procedure which allows two way flow of water depending on the time of day.” However, grammatical control is uneven. “It comprised of various steps” is not correctly formed; use “It comprises various steps” or “It is comprised of various steps.” Articles and prepositions are also missing or inaccurate in phrases such as “from river to high level reservoir” and “stored in dam.” The shift from the past tense in “flowed” to the present tense in “is made up” is inconsistent for a process description, which normally uses the present simple. The final fragment, “Generator,” is incomplete. Check sentence completeness, articles, and consistent present-tense forms.

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