Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram illustrate the process of producing electricity with the help of water in hydroelectric power station.

Overall, it is clearly seen that the whole station is build on a slope which naturaly provide velocity to water as it is necessary to move turbines. This process also pump water upwards in the night to redo the production of electricity.

First foremost, In the day time water which comes from river is collected in the hight-level reservoir as it holds water with the help of dam. Afterwards water flows toward generate and moves the turbine in the generator with the help energy it gain while flowing down strem later generater converts this energy into electricity before electricity go to national grid it flows through power lines.

Subsequently water is moved into low-level reservoir

where it is stored. In the night water is pumped from low- level reservior whith the help of reversable turbines and pushed water into hight level-reservior.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main stages and include the important day–night contrast: water passes from the high-level reservoir through the turbines to the low-level reservoir by day, while the process reverses at night. The overview also recognises that water is pumped back up, and the generator, power lines and national grid are mentioned. This gives the account a clear grasp of the process. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the station is not shown as being built on a slope, and the water does not move “toward [the] generator” before turning the turbine; the turbines drive the generator. The night-time intake closure could also be explained more clearly. More precise sequencing and a fully accurate overview would strengthen the response further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by a description of the daytime and nighttime stages. Time markers such as “In the day time” and “In the night” help readers follow the cycle. However, progression is not consistently clear within the long daytime sentence, where several actions are joined together without clear boundaries. “First foremost” and “Subsequently” are also awkward or mechanical transitions, and the final paragraph’s opening line is separated from the sentence that explains what happens to the water. Use clearer sentence breaks and link each stage in sequence—for example, reservoir, intake, turbines, generator, grid, then lower reservoir. This would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “dam,” “turbines,” “generator,” and “national grid,” and terms such as “pumped” help convey the cycle. However, spelling errors are noticeable, including “hight-level,” “naturaly,” “strem,” “generater,” “reservior,” and “reversable.” Some word combinations are also imprecise: “moves the turbine in the generator” and “redo the production of electricity” do not describe the process naturally. Aim for accurate, conventional process language, such as saying that water “drives the turbines” and is “pumped back to the upper reservoir.” This would improve precision and reduce the effort required to interpret some phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “water which comes from river” and a contrast between daytime and nighttime operation. However, errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some passages difficult to follow. For example, “The diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “the whole station is build” has an incorrect verb form. In the long sentence beginning “Afterwards water flows,” the sequence of clauses is not grammatically controlled, and “before electricity go” also has an agreement error. Use shorter, complete sentences and check verb forms, articles and agreement. More accurate control of these basic patterns would make your process description clearer.

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