Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-31

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 diagram illustrates the process of electricity generation in a hydroelectric power station.

Overall, it is clear that water flows from high-level reservoir through a dam and moves toward the power station generator that is connected with power lines and it uses reversible turbines that are used to operate generator and pump water. Water flows in both directions as it generates electricity during the day and pumps water back at night.

During the day the intake gate of dam is open and water flows to downward from the high-level reservoir and it runs the reversible turbines in the power station. The generator sends electricity to the national grid via power lines.

At night, Dam intake door is closed and reversible turbines operates in reverse. Reversible turbines pump back water from the low-level reservoir. Water flows back to high-level reservoir from the pipe and it is stored for the next day. this is how electicity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main cycle and give a clear overview: water generates electricity during the day, then is pumped back at night. The account also includes the key links to the generator, power lines and national grid, so the process is substantially covered. Some details, however, are less fully or precisely reported. For example, the river’s role in feeding the high-level reservoir is omitted, and saying water flows “through a dam” is less accurate than describing its route through the intake and conduit. The night-time explanation correctly mentions pumping from the low-level reservoir, but could clarify that the water passes through the reversible turbines and returns to the high-level reservoir. More precise coverage of these stages would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by separate descriptions of daytime and night-time operation. This makes the cycle easy to follow, and the contrast between “During the day” and “At night” is useful. Cohesion is sometimes less controlled, however. The overview repeats the idea that the turbines operate and pump water, which is then explained again in the body. Several sentences also rely on repeated “and” or “water,” while “this is how” at the end functions as an unnecessary conclusion rather than advancing the description. Keep the overview concise, use clearer links between stages, and ensure each paragraph adds new information to improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “high-level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” and “national grid,” which helps communicate the main stages. Some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “moves toward the power station generator” is vague, and “intake gate of dam” and “Dam intake door” use inconsistent, less suitable labels for the same component. There are also spelling errors in “electicity,” and “operate generator” is repeated without much variation. Aim for accurate collocations and consistent technical terms, such as “water passes through the intake” and “the turbines pump water back.” This would make the description more precise while retaining the relevant vocabulary you already use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the overview’s clause beginning “as it generates electricity” and the contrast between daytime and night-time processes. The main meaning is generally understandable, but some errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction remain. For example, “reversible turbines operates” should be “the reversible turbines operate,” and “the high-level reservoir” needs an article in “flows from high-level reservoir.” The phrase “water flows to downward” has an incorrect construction; use “water flows downward.” The final “this is how” begins a new sentence but is not capitalised, and the preceding sentence is joined awkwardly. Check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries, while continuing to practise varied sentence forms.

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