Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-21

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 generation of electricity is generated by several ways but the main is hydroelectric power station when the water of river

move toward the dam there is high level reservoir during the day it is open and at the night it is closed when dam pump the water the flow of water genrate the electricity . flow of water during the pumping at night is backword to the river or dam but flow of water during the day is toward the power station to generate electricity the part of power station that generta the electricity during the is national gird but during night low level reservoir works and water moves backword toward the high level reservoir in power station there is a reversible turbines during the day operate the generator and at night it pumps water from lo level reservoir toward the high level reservoir

main feature is that during the day it operate the genrator for electricity generation and during night it pumps water from low level to high level reservoir

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion4.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the central contrast between daytime electricity generation and nighttime pumping, and you mention several relevant components, including the dam, reservoirs, reversible turbines and generator. However, some key relationships are unclear or inaccurate: the water at night is pumped from the low-level reservoir back to the high-level reservoir, not “backword to the river or dam,” and the national grid receives electricity rather than generating it. The response also lacks a clear, accurate account of the full cycle, including the daytime route from the high-level reservoir through the turbines to the low-level reservoir. To strengthen the summary, give a concise overview first, then describe each phase in sequence using the diagram’s labels precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The response contains relevant information, and the final sentence restates the main day/night contrast. However, nearly all the details are placed in one long, loosely connected sequence, so the reader has difficulty following the process. Repeated use of “during the day” and “during night” does not create clear stages, while links such as “but” sometimes connect ideas that are not contrasting. The order also shifts between the dam, power station, grid and reservoirs without clearly tracing the water’s route. Organise the report into a brief overview and separate descriptions of daytime and nighttime operation. Use clear sequencing and reference words so each stage follows logically.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “high level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “generator” and “low level reservoir,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings make the description less precise, such as “national gird” and “backword.” Phrases like “the part of power station that generta the electricity during the is national gird” also show difficulty selecting accurate process vocabulary. Use the diagram’s terms consistently and learn common collocations for describing processes, such as water “flows through” turbines and electricity “is transmitted to” the grid. Careful spelling and more precise verbs would make the account easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

There are attempts to connect several stages in longer sentences, but the structures are often difficult to control, and sentence boundaries are unclear. For example, “when the water of river move toward the dam there is high level reservoir” has problems with articles, subject–verb agreement and clause structure. In “during the day it operate the genrator,” the verb form does not agree with its subject. Missing punctuation also causes several separate process steps to run together. Practise writing shorter, complete sentences first, then combine them with accurate time clauses such as “During the day, water flows…” and “At night, it is pumped…”. Check articles, verb agreement and punctuation during revision.

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