Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-26

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 process diagram illustrates that how electricity is produced in a hydroelectric power plant

firstly,the water comes from the river to the portion where the water stored in a dam from here water passes through the tubes in a slide from upright to downward side,Then the water passes through the turbines in power station, the flow of water drives the turbines in the result the generator starts, these reversible turbines plays multiple role in day it operate generator on the other hand, it pumps water to the high level reservoir. furthermore,the generator produces electricity from where the electricity moves to the power lines and then reached the national grid and becomes avaliable for the use of individuals

In conclusion, the water from the dam passes through various procedure to produce electricity

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main purpose and several relevant stages, including water passing through turbines, the generator producing electricity, and power lines carrying it to the national grid. You also mention the turbines’ different roles during the day and at night. However, the account is only partial: it does not clearly explain that water flows from the high-level reservoir to the low-level reservoir during the day, then is pumped back uphill at night, and it gives little detail about the intake being closed at night. The overview is also weak; the final sentence merely repeats that water passes through procedures. The response is 131 words, below the required 150, which limits the opportunity to report the process fully. Add a clear overview and explain both operating cycles.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in a broadly understandable order, moving from the river and dam to the turbines, generator, and national grid. This gives the reader a basic sense of the process. However, the response is written as one long paragraph, so the overview and the detailed stages are not clearly separated. Linking is also limited and sometimes mechanical: “firstly,” “from here,” “on the other hand,” and “furthermore” are crowded into the same sequence, while the night-time cycle is not organised as a distinct stage. Some references, such as “from where,” are unclear. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and process details, and connect the day and night stages with precise transitions such as “During the day” and “At night.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “turbines,” “generator,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also an attempt to describe movement with phrases such as “passes through” and “moves to.” However, the range of process language is limited, and several choices are inaccurate or awkward, including “portion,” “tubes,” “in a slide from upright to downward side,” and “various procedure.” Spelling errors such as “avaliable” are noticeable, and “multiple role” is not expressed naturally. Aim for precise terms from the diagram, such as “conduit,” “flows downhill,” and “is pumped back,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to combine stages using clauses, for example, “the flow of water drives the turbines … the generator starts,” and it includes a contrast between daytime and night-time operation. However, many sentences are run together without appropriate full stops, and the attempted complex structures are often faulty. The opening phrase “illustrates that how” has an unnecessary conjunction, while “these reversible turbines plays” has subject–verb disagreement. Other problems include missing articles and inconsistent sentence boundaries, as in “firstly,the water comes…” and the long sequence beginning “from here water passes…”. Use shorter, complete sentences with accurate punctuation, and check agreement and articles when revising.

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