Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-04

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)

Diagram show how electricity generated in hydroelectric power station, All process given below in the diagram.

First of all, water resources through river to dam for generating power supply pumping to generating electricity, and that process begin night and day water push the turbine and generator making electricity .

source of water from river to dam that are high level reservoir intake of water are open in day and closed in night, water flow and generate electricity day time, as otherside water flow pumping during night, water pushing the turbine in a day operate generator.

Otherhands, pumping water through extreme level reservoir in night, turbine spinnig fast and this movement convert into electricity and transfer to generator, power lines and national grid is the last and final stage of power station if we are look into turbine level of low reservoir getting outflow to river and lakes that is overall process

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion4.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main components, including the river, high-level reservoir, intake, turbines, generator, power lines and national grid, and you mention the day/night distinction. However, the process is only partly explained and some details are inaccurate or unclear. For example, you say the water goes “from river to dam,” rather than explaining that it enters the high-level reservoir, then flows through the turbines to the low-level reservoir during the day. The night-time pumping cycle is also confused with electricity generation: the diagram shows water being pumped back uphill, not the turbines spinning to generate electricity at night. The claim that water flows from the low reservoir to rivers and lakes is not shown. A clearer overview and accurate account of both operating modes would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the description into stages, using phrases such as “First of all” and “Otherhands,” and the response broadly follows the process from the water source towards the power station. However, progression is difficult to follow because ideas are repeated and the day and night operations are mixed together. The opening sentence does not establish a clear overview, while the final sentence combines the low-level reservoir, river, lakes and national grid without a logical connection. Paragraphing is present, but the links between sentences are often unclear, and expressions such as “as otherside” do not accurately signal a contrast. Group the explanation into a clear overview, daytime flow, and night-time pumping, using precise links between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “reservoir,” “intake,” “turbine,” “generator,” and “national grid,” which helps identify the main equipment. There are also attempts at less common wording, such as “outflow” and “convert,” but several choices or forms are inaccurate and make the process harder to understand. For instance, “water resources” is not a natural way to describe the water entering the system, “extreme level reservoir” does not clearly mean the high-level reservoir, and “spinnig” is misspelled. Phrases such as “power supply pumping” and “turbine level” are also imprecise. Aim for standard process collocations and use the diagram’s labels consistently; this will make your vocabulary more accurate and effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to combine ideas in longer sentences, but control is limited and errors occur frequently, sometimes obscuring the sequence. For example, “Diagram show how electricity generated” lacks an article and the auxiliary verb, while “water flow and generate electricity day time” has problems with verb form and sentence structure. Subject–verb agreement is also inconsistent in “power lines and national grid is,” and punctuation does not reliably separate complete ideas. Most sentences rely on simple or loosely joined clauses, so the relationships between actions are not always clear. Practise accurate present-simple passive forms for processes, such as “water is released” and “electricity is generated,” and build shorter, complete sentences before attempting longer structures.

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