Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The given illustrates the process of generating electricity through a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, the water from a river comes down with high velocity to rotate a turbine that eventually generates electricity during the day. While, at night the process gets reversed and water moves from down to the top.

The process starts with river filling up the high-level reservoir, there water is held up by a dam that opens during the day and shuts at night. The water comes down in a high velocity to power station to rotate the reversible turbines that eventually runs the generator to produce electric power. That power then moves through power lines to the national grid. While the gets stored in low-level reservoir.

During the night, the turbine takes water from loe-level reservoir and pump it into high-level reservoir using electricity, thus reversing the whole process. The dam stays close at night to keep water saved for the next day use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main operating stages and give a clear overview of the day/night cycle: water flows down to generate electricity by day, while the process reverses at night. You also report the generator, power lines and national grid, and explain that water is returned to the high-level reservoir. This addresses the task well. However, the description misstates the intake as part of the dam that “opens during the day and shuts at night”; the diagram labels the intake as open or closed, while the dam holds back the water. The claim that water descends “with high velocity” is not shown, and the night-time use of electricity is not specified. Keep the account closely tied to the diagram’s labels and sequence for more precise coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for daytime generation and night-time pumping. This makes the two operating modes easy to follow. Some links between ideas are less controlled, however. “While, at night” is an awkward transition, and “While the gets stored in low-level reservoir” is an incomplete, unclear sentence that interrupts the daytime sequence. The repeated use of “While” also makes cohesion feel mechanical. Use complete sentences and clearer sequencing expressions such as “Afterward” or “At night, by contrast.” More precise referencing would also help readers distinguish the intake, dam and reservoir.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” “power lines” and “national grid,” which allows you to describe the main components. There is also some attempt at more specific wording, such as “reversing the whole process.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “comes down with high velocity,” “water is held up,” and “electric power” are less suitable descriptions here. “loe-level” is misspelled, and “the dam stays close” uses the wrong word form for the intended meaning. Aim for precise process collocations, for example, water “flows down” or “is pumped back,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including the contrast between daytime operation and night-time pumping, and the final sentence beginning “During the night.” The main sequence is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. “The process starts with river filling up” needs an article and a suitable verb form; “the reversible turbines … eventually runs” has subject–verb disagreement; and “the turbine … pump it” also needs agreement and a consistent verb form. “While the gets stored” is incomplete, while “While, at night” is incorrectly punctuated. Work on articles, agreement and complete clause construction, then proofread punctuation. These corrections would make your varied sentence attempts more controlled.

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