Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram illustrates how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, it is clear that the process consists of many stages to complete nevertheless water collected from the river and with assist of Dam they make electricity.

To commence, take all water form the high level of river and passes through the Dam with high-level reservoir. However, the dam have to facilities that in day open and in night it closed in down side of dam. Moreover, in day the water passed to flow of water in turbines to genrate electricity, while in night the waste water pumping back throughout the dam to recycle again.

On the other hand, the day water which was not complete good are passing on low-level reservoir and frash water into Generator to make more power station. On account of in generator within few mintues it transform in to power lines. Finally, all the power lines passed National grid to make more electricity and supppiles to various urban center.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the topic and include the key day/night contrast: water flows through the turbines to generate electricity during the day, while at night it is pumped back. However, several stages are misreported or unclear. The river feeds the high-level reservoir; water does not pass “through the Dam with high-level reservoir.” The low-level reservoir stores water after it passes through the turbines, rather than sending “fresh water into Generator.” The generator is driven by the turbines, and electricity then travels through power lines to the national grid. Your overview mentions the general process but does not clearly summarise this cycle. To strengthen the response, describe the sequence accurately and distinguish water movement from electricity transmission.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs, and it uses some signposting such as “To commence,” “Moreover” and “Finally.” These features give it a basic structure. However, the progression is difficult to follow because stages are not consistently presented in their actual order, and some links between ideas are unclear. For example, “On the other hand” introduces a continuation of the process rather than a contrast, while “On account of” does not clearly explain the relationship between the generator and power lines. References such as “the day water” and “it” are also ambiguous. Organise the description as a clear day cycle followed by the night return cycle, using simpler, more precise transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “turbines,” “generator,” “power lines” and “National grid,” so the reader can recognise the subject. However, the range and control are limited, and several word choices or collocations make the process difficult to understand. “Waste water” inaccurately suggests discarded water, while “not complete good” and “make more power station” do not express the intended stages. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “genrate,” “frash,” “mintues” and “supppiles.” Aim for precise process verbs and standard spelling; for example, describe water as flowing, being stored, or being pumped, rather than using vague phrases such as “passed” or “make.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “while” and a sequence introduced by “Finally.” However, the range is limited in practice because several longer sentences are faulty, and errors frequently obscure relationships between stages. Examples include “the dam have to facilities,” “the water passed to flow,” and “it transform in to power lines.” These show problems with subject–verb agreement, verb forms and sentence construction. Articles and prepositions are also often missing or misplaced, as in “in day” and “in down side of dam.” Build accurate short sentences first, then combine them with clauses such as “while” or “after.” Check that each sentence has a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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