The diagram below shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.
Sample Response
The given process figure illustrates the generation of electricity in a hydroelectric power station.
Overall, it can be seen that electricity is generated mostly in day hours. However, at night time, water is sent to the reservoir. The generation of current involves around seven stages.
To begin with, firstly, water was transferred from the river to a high-level reservoir. It was regulated by a dam, which is constructed behind a reservoir. Secondly, in the daytime, water had flown from pipes to reversible turbines to generate power. Then, some water is sent into the generator in the power station. After that, the generator produces the power lines then it forms the national grid. Next, the liquid is directed to the low-level reservoir in light time.
In the nighttime, the process is reversed, pumping water from the low-level reservoirs to reversible turbines and through the pipes to the main pool. In the nocturnal time, intake is closed. The same water which is pumped from a low-level reservoir is used for daylight production of energy.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use diagram terminology Original: figure Suggested revision: diagram Why it matters: Process diagram is the conventional term for this type of visual.
- 2. State daytime generation Original: mostly in day hours Suggested revision: during the day Why it matters: The diagram shows electricity generation as the daytime operation.
- 3. Use concise time phrase Original: at night time Suggested revision: at night Why it matters: At night is the natural concise expression.
- 4. Name the destination Original: sent to the reservoir Suggested revision: pumped back to the high-level reservoir Why it matters: At night, the turbines pump water from the low-level reservoir back to the high-level reservoir.
- 5. Describe the cycle Original: around seven stages Suggested revision: a repeating daytime and nighttime cycle Why it matters: The key overall feature is the reversal between daytime generation and nighttime pumping.
- 6. Remove duplicate sequencing Original: To begin with, firstly Suggested revision: To begin with Why it matters: The two opening sequence markers perform the same function.
- 7. Use present tense Original: was transferred Suggested revision: flows Why it matters: A process diagram should be described consistently in the present tense.
- 8. Use present tense Original: had flown Suggested revision: flows Why it matters: The simple present is appropriate for a process shown as generally occurring.
- 9. Correct the flow path Original: from pipes Suggested revision: through the pipe Why it matters: The diagram shows water travelling through a conduit toward the turbines.
- 10. Name water directly Original: liquid Suggested revision: water Why it matters: Water is more precise and consistent with the process being described.
- 11. Use natural time phrase Original: in light time Suggested revision: during the day Why it matters: During the day is the natural expression for the daytime stage.
- 12. Use natural time phrase Original: In the nighttime Suggested revision: At night Why it matters: At night is the standard expression in this context.
Suggested Rewrites
- figure diagram
- mostly in day hours during the day
- at night time at night
- sent to the reservoir pumped back to the high-level reservoir
- around seven stages a repeating daytime and nighttime cycle
- To begin with, firstly To begin with
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response gives a relevant overview of the daytime generation and nighttime pumping cycle and presents the stages in a broadly logical order. Its main limitation is technical imprecision: water is incorrectly described as entering the generator, and the generator's connection to the national grid is unclear. The highest-priority improvement is to describe the function of each component accurately while maintaining consistent present-tense process language.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The main day-night cycle and most components are covered, but some important relationships are inaccurate, particularly the roles of the turbines, generator, and power lines.
State that flowing water turns the reversible turbines, which operate the generator, and that electricity then travels by power lines to the national grid.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response has a clear introduction, overview, and separate daytime and nighttime stages, although sequencing devices are repetitive and some connections are confusing.
Organise each stage around one clear action and use sequencing only where it genuinely clarifies the process.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary covers the process adequately, but alternatives such as light time, nocturnal time, main pool, and liquid are awkward or imprecise.
Use the diagram's exact technical labels consistently, including daytime, nighttime, high-level reservoir, and low-level reservoir.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is generally understandable, but frequent tense shifts, malformed verb phrases, and inaccurate clause structures weaken control.
Describe the process consistently in the present simple and check subject-verb relationships in every stage.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The diagram below shows how electricity is generated in a hydroelectric power station.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.