Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-11-05

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 that hoe electricity is produced from hydroelectric power station. Overall, power station play a significant role to produce electricity. Dam used for the storage and flow of water in day to produce electricity and at night pumping the fow of water. Similarly, reversible turbines are operate generator at day and water pump into high reservoir at night. At day, high level reservior of dam is open and used for the flow of water to produce electricity. But at night intake is closed and after the electricity is produced the flow of water are pumping back. As compared to, power station consist of generator that transfer power lines into national grid. With generator also attached reversible turbines is used to operate the generator to low level reservior at day and pump the water into high leve reservior.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main purpose and include the key day/night contrast: water flows down to generate electricity during the day, while it is pumped back at night. You also mention the generator, power lines, national grid, and both reservoirs. However, the account is only partial and some stages are unclear or inaccurate. For example, “high level reservior of dam is open” confuses the reservoir with the intake, which is open by day and closed at night; the diagram shows water reaching the low-level reservoir after passing through the turbines. The overview also gives broad statements rather than clearly summarising the complete cycle. The response is 139 words, below the required 150, so it needs more development of the sequence and the roles of the components.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic paragraph structure, with an opening, an overview, and further details, and the day/night contrast gives the response some organisation. However, progression is not consistently clear: the description moves from the dam to night-time pumping, then to the generator and back to the turbines without setting out the process in sequence. Linking phrases such as “Similarly,” “But,” and “As compared to” are either awkward or do not clearly express the relationship between the ideas. References such as “the flow of water” and “the electricity” are also unclear because the stages have not been established precisely. Organise the body chronologically—daytime flow first, then the night-time return—and use simple, accurate links between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “hydroelectric power station,” “reversible turbines,” “generator,” and “national grid,” which helps communicate the topic. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand: “hoe,” “fow,” “reservior,” and “leve” appear in place of the intended terms. Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “produce electricity from hydroelectric power station” and “transfer power lines into national grid.” Use precise process verbs and collocations, for example, water “flows through” turbines, a generator “produces” electricity, and power lines “carry” it to the grid. Proofreading spelling and avoiding repeated use of “produce” would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a few longer structures, including “At day, high level reservior of dam is open and used…” and a sentence beginning “As compared to,” but most sentences rely on basic patterns and several are difficult to follow. There are frequent problems with articles, agreement, and verb forms: “power station play” needs a singular verb, “turbines are operate” has an incorrect verb construction, and “the flow of water are pumping” has faulty agreement and passive form. The opening also lacks an article before “hydroelectric power station.” These errors sometimes obscure who or what performs each action. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then combine stages with controlled clauses such as “When the intake is open, water flows…”

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