Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-29

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 6.0)

The given diagram expresses a ''Hydroelectric power station''. It is a man made linear process used to produce electricity from water kinetic energy.

Overall, there are three main parts of this power station which are ''High-level reservoir, Power station and Low-level reservoir''. The process begins from ''Dam'' and ends on two parts that are ''National grid'' and ''Low-level reservoir.

Firstly, dam intake water from river in day time . Then, water flows through a pipeline to generate electircity . Followed by this there is a ''Generator'' that transfers that flow of electrons to power lines and than into national grid. At the bottom of generator there is a duct that carries water to Low-level reservoir.

Finally, at night time ''Reversible turbines'' operate in order to pump water back to dam via duct from Low-level reservoir to turbines to High-level reservoir. The backward arrow in diagram proceeding from right to left shows upward movement of water at that time intake of dam is closed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a hydroelectric process and describe both daytime generation and nighttime pumping, including the intake being closed at night. This covers the central cycle and gives the reader a generally accurate account. However, the overview is not fully clear: saying the process “begins from ‘Dam’” is imprecise, since river water enters the high-level reservoir, and the process does not simply end at the national grid and low-level reservoir. Some stages are also under-developed, such as the daytime route from the turbines into the low-level reservoir. Clarify the two operating modes in the overview and report the sequence more precisely to make the main features complete and clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by daytime and nighttime descriptions. “Firstly” and “Finally” help signal sequence, and the contrast between day and night gives the account a logical basis. However, progression is occasionally unclear because the overview says the process “ends on two parts,” while the later paragraphs describe a repeating cycle. Some links are also mechanical or imprecise, such as “Followed by this,” and the long final sentence combines several stages without clear separation. Organise the body explicitly around the daytime and nighttime flows, and use clearer references to the reservoir, conduit and turbines so each stage connects smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” and “national grid,” which helps convey the diagram’s subject. There is also an attempt at more technical phrasing in “kinetic energy” and “upward movement.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “expresses” is not natural for a diagram, “dam intake water” does not clearly describe the action, and “flow of electrons” misrepresents the diagram’s account of electricity generation. Spelling errors such as “electircity” and “than” also reduce precision. Choose standard process verbs such as “illustrates,” “flows,” and “is pumped,” and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “which are ‘High-level reservoir, Power station and Low-level reservoir’” and a time clause beginning “Finally, at night time.” The main stages remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “Overall, there are three main parts … which are” has awkward agreement and construction, while “The process begins from ‘Dam’ and ends on two parts” uses incorrect prepositions and an unclear sentence pattern. Articles and verb forms also need attention in “dam intake water from river” and “there is a duct that carries water.” Improve sentence boundaries and punctuation, and practise accurate article use, agreement and prepositions in process descriptions.

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