Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-01

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 noticeable that Water flow from high level reservior to low level reservior to generate power in day. The process is reverse in night. The Damis open during the day and closed in night.

Moreover, Flow of water from dam goes in power station to genrate electricity in day. In power station water passes through reversible turbines .Reversible turbines move speedily which make electricty and store in generator upper from turbines. Water stores in Low level reservior.Then generator pass electricity to power lines and national grids. However, In nights the water store in low level reservior flow to high level reservior with the help of turbines. Then water again comes in dam.

Conclusion; Dams only generate electricity in day . Power statios also works in night but they reverse water to dam.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main contrast between daytime electricity generation and nighttime water pumping, and mention key components such as the turbines, generator, power lines and reservoirs. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the intake, not the dam, is labelled as open by day and closed at night, and water is not stored in the generator. The account also says water “again comes in dam,” which does not clearly describe its return to the high-level reservoir. The overview is relevant but brief, and several stages need more precise explanation. The response is 137 words, below the required 150; the nine words copied from the prompt are excluded from this count. Develop the sequence more fully and accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall structure: an introduction, an overview, a description of daytime operation and a concluding reference to nighttime pumping. This helps the reader recognise the two operating modes. However, progression within the main paragraph is uneven: the account moves from water flow to the turbines, then to the generator and reservoirs, without consistently clarifying how these stages connect. Linking words such as “Moreover,” “Then” and “However” are used, but some do not express the relationship precisely, and the conclusion repeats the day/night contrast rather than adding a clear final summary. Use separate, clearly ordered paragraphs for the daytime and nighttime cycles, with accurate references to each component.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “high level reservoir,” “reversible turbines,” “power lines” and “national grids,” so the reader can identify many of the diagram’s components. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “store in generator” confuses the generator’s function, while “turbines move speedily” is not a precise description of the process. Spelling errors such as “reservior,” “genrate” and “electricty” are noticeable, and inconsistent forms such as “power statios” reduce clarity. Aim for precise process collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, describe electricity as being generated by the generator and water as being pumped back to the upper reservoir.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the basic meaning is often recoverable. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, with frequent errors in articles, verb forms, agreement and sentence boundaries. Examples include “Water flow … to generate power in day,” “The Damis open” and “Reversible turbines move speedily which make electricty.” The final sentence, “Power statios also works in night,” also has an agreement error. Punctuation and capitalisation are uneven, including the semicolon after “Conclusion” and unnecessary capitals within sentences. Practise complete clauses with accurate tense and agreement, such as “During the day, water flows …” and “At night, the turbines pump water back …”.

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