Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-30

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 5.0)

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

Overall, it is clear that the proceses of producing electricity from water containt many steps like from river to national grid. The main role done by high flow of water and power station for genrating electicity.

As the first stage, River flow to high level reservior area, this dam open in day for high flow of water, while closed to night for reservoier water in dam. below the flow water a area is created know is power station, included on generator to produced electricity.

During the day intake open the flow of water and genrate electricity with help of power station, delivered electricity to national grid through power lines. While in night intake the flow of water is closed, remaining water move to low level reservior. and like the electrcity genrated.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the subject and give a basic overview, noting that water moves from the river towards the national grid and that the process has day and night stages. However, the process is only partly described, and some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, the dam itself is not described as opening during the day; it is the intake that opens, while the dam holds the high-level reservoir. You also say that at night water remains in the dam and later moves to the low-level reservoir, but the key cycle is that water is pumped from the low-level reservoir back to the high-level one. The response is also 7 words below the required minimum. Include the full two-way cycle and clarify the turbines’ different functions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing stages. The sequence from the river to electricity delivery is partly traceable, and the contrast marker “while” signals the day/night distinction. However, progression becomes difficult to follow in places, especially in “below the flow water a area is created know is power station” and the final sentence, which does not clearly explain the night cycle. Some linking is mechanical or incomplete, and punctuation between ideas is often missing. Organise the description into a clear daytime sequence followed by the reverse nighttime process, using precise references such as “the water” and “the turbines” to make connections easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “intake,” “generator,” “power lines,” and “national grid,” so the topic is recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations make the description difficult to understand, such as “high flow of water,” “the main role done by,” and “remaining water move.” Repeated spelling errors—including “reservior,” “genrating,” and “electrcity”—also reduce clarity. Aim for accurate, standard process language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe water as flowing through a conduit, say that turbines drive the generator, and use “pumped back” for the nighttime movement.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

There are attempts to use more than simple sentences, including the contrast in “while closed to night,” but sentence structures are often faulty and the range remains limited. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in phrases such as “River flow,” “the flow of water … genrate electricity,” and “remaining water move.” Articles and sentence construction are also problematic in “below the flow water a area is created,” while the final clause “and like the electrcity genrated” is incomplete. These errors sometimes make the process hard to interpret. Build accurate simple sentences first, then add controlled clauses with “while” or “whereas”; check subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence boundaries.

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