Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-22

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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates the working of a hydroelectric power station for the production of electricity.

Overall, the whole process starts from water collection in high level reservoir then to the generator and then eventually production of electricity.

To begin with, the water from river is collected into a high level water reservoir, the river water is prevented to travel further into the river by a dam. The water from reservoir then flows to the power station underground, here this water turns the turbines reversibly in the daytime and ultimately the power is produced which is the electricity. The excessive water is then collected into low level reservoir.

The energy that is produced is transferred to National grid via power lines. Then at night time the water in low level reservoir is pumped back into high level reservoir via the turbines keeping the intake holes for water closed at night. This process is then repeated daily to produce electricity from generators which are powered by turbines, turned by water pressure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main operating cycle and distinguish the daytime generation stage from the nighttime pumping stage. The overview identifies the movement from the upper reservoir through the generator and the eventual production of electricity, while the body also mentions the low-level reservoir, power lines and the intake being closed at night. These details show a clear understanding of the diagram. Some descriptions are less precise: “turns the turbines reversibly in the daytime” does not clearly explain that water drives the turbines to operate the generator, and the river is described as being prevented from travelling further rather than as feeding the upper reservoir. For a stronger account, state the two-way cycle and the turbines’ different functions more directly and accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall sequence, moving from an overview to the daytime process and then to nighttime pumping. Paragraphing helps separate the general summary from the stages, and connectors such as “To begin with,” “then,” and “Then at night time” guide the reader through the cycle. However, the progression is not always smooth: the overview says the process goes “then to the generator” before the body explains the water’s route, and “The energy that is produced” introduces the grid connection after the low-level reservoir has already been mentioned. Some references, including “this water” and “this process,” could be more specific. Grouping the daytime stages together before describing the return flow at night would make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “dam,” “turbines,” “generator,” “pumped back,” and “National grid.” These terms make the subject clear, and the response attempts to describe both water movement and electricity transmission. Some choices are imprecise or awkwardly combined, however: “turns the turbines reversibly” does not naturally express the turbines’ operation, while “excessive water” suggests surplus water rather than water discharged into the lower reservoir. “High level water reservoir” is also less precise than the diagram’s term. Aim for accurate process collocations and avoid adding meanings not shown in the diagram; for example, describe water as flowing through the turbines and being stored in the lower reservoir.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including sequencing clauses and a final sentence explaining the repeated cycle. The main stages remain understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions reduce precision. For example, “water from river” needs an article, and “the river water is prevented to travel” uses an incorrect verb pattern. In “water from reservoir then flows,” the article is also missing, while “the turbines reversibly in the daytime” is not formed clearly as a clause. Review articles with singular countable nouns and verb patterns such as “prevented from travelling.” Shorter, carefully controlled sentences for each stage would improve accuracy while preserving your ability to use complex structures.

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