Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-24

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 4.5)

So According to this question the hydroelectric electricity Start genrate with the help or river and dan firstly a river flow a water and after that is reached to high level reservoir and its flow below the dam subsequently flow water starting genrate a electricity after this process now the role of power station is start the low level reservoir in day at the night the water is flow during pumping in addition the day open and night close This process called hydroelectric power electricity

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the general subject and mention several relevant labels, including the river, high-level reservoir, dam, power station, and the day/night operation. However, the process is only minimally described: the account does not clearly explain that water flows down to reversible turbines by day, drives the generator, and then reaches the low-level reservoir, or that the flow reverses at night to pump water back uphill. The statement that “the role of power station is start the low level reservoir” misrepresents the sequence. There is also no clear overview of the system’s two-way cycle. The response is 85 words, 65 below the required minimum, which further limits the coverage of the main stages. Develop the full cycle accurately and include its purpose.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to present events in sequence, using “firstly,” “after that,” “subsequently,” and “after this process.” These markers show that you recognise the diagram as a process. However, the progression is difficult to follow because several stages are compressed into one long sentence, and the links do not always show the actual relationships between them. For example, “the role of power station is start the low level reservoir in day” makes the sequence unclear. The final reference to day and night operation is not connected clearly to the earlier stages. Organise the response into a brief overview and a step-by-step description, using separate sentences and clear links such as “during the day” and “at night.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-related vocabulary, including “river,” “high level reservoir,” “dam,” “power station,” and “pumping,” so the reader can recognise the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms make the process hard to understand, such as “hydroelectric electricity,” “flow a water,” and “start genrate a electricity.” Some key terms from the diagram, especially “reversible turbines,” “generator,” and “national grid,” are omitted, limiting precision. Spelling errors such as “genrate” and “dan” also reduce clarity. Build a small bank of accurate process vocabulary and use standard forms: for example, “generate electricity,” “water flows,” and “low-level reservoir.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to connect stages with time and sequence, but it relies on one extended sentence and shows very limited control of sentence structure. Errors in verb forms and agreement occur throughout: “a river flow a water,” “its flow below the dam,” and “the water is flow during pumping” do not form accurate clauses. Articles and sentence boundaries are also problematic, as in “genrate a electricity,” while the opening capitalisation and punctuation make the text harder to read. These errors frequently obscure how the stages relate. Practise writing short, complete process sentences first, such as “During the day, water flows through the turbines and turns the generator.” Then add a contrasting sentence for the night cycle.

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