Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-27

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 illustrate how electricity is generated on hydroelectric power station. The main components of this is river, a dam where water stored, water channel where it flows to run turbine and produce electricity.

Overall, it consit of 5 steps, water stored to reserved and then flow in high pressure to move turbine in high velocity to generate power. Moreover, the generated power transfered with the help of powerlines to national grid.

First step is to store huge chunks of water, such as river as shown in dam. The intake is opened in day and closed at night, flow of water to genrate electricity during day and during puping at night.

Furthermore, this is connected to reversible turbine, water movement during this speed-up turbine which is connected to other end of Generator. The generator creates electricity which transfered to nation grid with power line.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as hydroelectric generation and include relevant components such as the dam, intake, reversible turbine, generator and national grid. You also note the key day/night distinction: the intake is open by day and closed at night, with water pumped back at night. However, the account is only partial and some important stages are unclear or inaccurate. For example, the low-level reservoir and the return flow from it are not explained, and “water stored to reserved” does not clearly describe the two reservoirs. The claim that there are “5 steps” is not supported by the diagram. The response is also 5 words below the required minimum. To improve, give a clear overview of the complete cycle and describe both daytime generation and nighttime pumping accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing parts of the process. This gives the reader a basic progression from water storage to electricity transmission. However, the sequence is not consistently clear. The first-step paragraph combines storage, intake operation and both day and night flows, while the later paragraph returns to the turbine and generator without explaining the low-level reservoir’s role. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “First step” and “Furthermore” help signal movement, but some connections are mechanical or do not clarify how stages relate. Use a more systematic sequence—reservoir and intake, daytime flow and generation, then nighttime pumping—and refer clearly to each reservoir as the process continues.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “intake,” “reversible turbine,” “generator” and “national grid,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at more specific description, such as “high pressure” and “high velocity.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear: “huge chunks of water,” “water stored to reserved,” and “water movement during this speed-up turbine” do not express the process naturally. Spelling errors such as “consit,” “genrate,” “puping” and “transfered” are noticeable and reduce precision. Aim for standard process language, for example “water is stored in the reservoir,” “flows through the turbines,” and “electricity is transmitted to the grid.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, with errors in agreement, articles, verb forms and sentence construction. For example, “The process diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, while “on hydroelectric power station” requires an article and a more suitable preposition. The sentence beginning “Overall, it consit of 5 steps” has an unclear subject and faulty construction, and “The generator creates electricity which transfered” is missing the auxiliary verb. Several clauses are joined in ways that make relationships difficult to follow. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions—such as “water is stored” and “electricity is transmitted”—and check each sentence for a clear subject and complete verb.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.