Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram demonstrates the making process of electricity by hydroelectric power station in river. The dam mainly forcing water to go through a turbine as a result the current producing.

Firstly, a big dam stop the river water and amplify the pressure of water by resarving it. Later, in day time they open the gate which is placed at bottom of the dam body what allow water to flow downward. There is a power station placed at below that connect the following pipe to allow high pressure water go through a turbine. The water help turbine to rotate with its downward pressure and the turbine is connected with a generator which produce electricity, all this activity happen at day time.

On the other hand, there is another low-level reservoir placed at the opposite site of the river and a low level dam. At night, they pump water to the higher-level reservoir and balance the pressure of that. After night the process again happen and produce current by rotation of turbine with generator which is connected to the power line.Finally it supply that electricity to a national grid.

In conclusion, The whole system use water flow to produce current and for maintain the pressure they also pump the water to high-level reservoir at night.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main operating cycle: water is released from the high-level reservoir during the day, turns a turbine connected to a generator, and is pumped back at night. The final reference to the national grid is also relevant. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows a river feeding the upper reservoir, not a dam that “amplif[ies]” water pressure, and the lower reservoir is not described as having a dam. The overview identifies the general purpose but could more clearly summarise the key contrast between daytime generation and nighttime pumping. Develop the stages more precisely, including the flow to the lower reservoir during the day and the reversible turbines’ role in both directions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, moving from an introduction to the daytime process, the nighttime cycle, and a conclusion. “Firstly” and “On the other hand” help signal the sequence and contrast, so the reader can follow the main stages. Some connections are less clear, however: “After night the process again happen” does not specify when the next daytime cycle begins, and “all this activity” has an imprecise reference. The conclusion repeats the general idea rather than adding a concise overview of the two-stage cycle. Use clearer links between each stage and ensure pronouns or phrases refer to a specific component or action.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “turbine,” “generator,” “pressure,” and “national grid,” which gives the response an adequate range for describing the diagram. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “low-level reservoir” and “downward pressure.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “making process of electricity,” “the current producing,” and “amplify the pressure.” Spelling errors such as “resarving” and “site” for “side” also reduce precision. Choose standard process terms and check spelling; for example, describe water as being stored, released, and pumped rather than saying the dam amplifies pressure.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including clauses linked with “which” and “as a result,” and the sequence is generally understandable. However, errors in sentence structure and verb forms occur in several places. For example, “The dam mainly forcing water” lacks a finite verb, while “the turbine is connected with a generator which produce electricity” has an agreement error. Other examples include “they open the gate … what allow water” and “the whole system use.” Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or awkward, as in “at below” and “in river.” Work on complete clauses, subject–verb agreement, and sentence boundaries; these corrections would make the process easier to follow.

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