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Cambridge 14 Writing Task 1 Test 3 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)
Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
The Prompt
How a Hydroelectric Power Station Generates Electricity
The diagram below shows how a hydroelectric power station generates electricity.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features.
Write at least 150 words.
The Data
Stages in hydroelectric power generation
1. Reservoir: A dam creates a reservoir that stores water at high elevation.
2. Intake gates: Water is released from the reservoir through large intake gates.
3. Penstock (pipe): Released water flows down a wide penstock, gaining kinetic energy.
4. Turbine: Fast-moving water strikes the turbine blades, causing it to spin.
5. Generator: The spinning turbine drives a generator, producing electrical energy.
6. Transformer: Electricity passes through a transformer, which raises its voltage.
7. Power lines: High-voltage electricity travels via power lines to towns and cities.
8. River outflow: Water is discharged back into the river downstream of the dam.
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204 wordsStates the underlying energy-conversion principle explicitly rather than just listing the eight stages in order.
The diagram illustrates the process by which a hydroelectric power station generates electricity, from the storage of water to its eventual distribution as usable power.
Overall, the process involves eight distinct stages, beginning with water storage in a reservoir and ending with its return to the river, and it relies on the conversion of gravitational and kinetic energy into electrical energy through a turbine and generator.
The process begins when a dam creates a reservoir that stores water at a high elevation. This stored water is then released through intake gates, after which it flows downward through a wide pipe known as a penstock, gaining considerable kinetic energy as it descends due to gravity. At the base of the penstock, the fast-moving water strikes the blades of a turbine, causing it to spin rapidly.
This spinning motion drives a generator, which converts the mechanical energy of the turning shaft into electrical energy. The electricity produced is subsequently passed through a transformer, which raises its voltage to make it suitable for long-distance transmission via overhead power lines to homes and businesses. Finally, once it has passed through the turbine, the water itself is discharged back into the river downstream of the dam, completing the cycle.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all eight stages of the process accurately and in the correct sequence, with a precise overview identifying the underlying principle: the conversion of gravitational and kinetic energy into electricity.
Coherence & Cohesion: A clear overview precedes detail organised strictly by sequence, with cohesive devices ("this stored water is then", "finally") signalling each stage naturally.
Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("gaining considerable kinetic energy", "discharged", "completing the cycle") used accurately throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including passive voice for describing each stage, used with full control.
Band 8
167 wordsAccurate and clearly sequenced, just slightly less precise in explaining the underlying energy conversion than a band 9 answer.
The diagram shows the stages involved in generating electricity at a hydroelectric power station.
Overall, the process has eight main stages, starting with water being stored in a reservoir and ending with the water being released back into the river, and it works by turning the movement of water into electrical energy.
First, a dam is built to create a reservoir that stores water at a high level. The water is then released through intake gates and flows down through a large pipe called a penstock, gaining speed and energy as it falls due to gravity. At the bottom, the fast-flowing water hits the blades of a turbine, making it spin.
The spinning turbine is connected to a generator, which turns this movement into electricity. This electricity then passes through a transformer, which increases its voltage so it can travel long distances through power lines to reach towns and cities. Finally, the water that has passed through the turbine flows back into the river below the dam.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all eight stages accurately in the correct sequence with a clear overview, though the underlying principle is stated a little more simply than in the band 9 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by strictly sequential detail; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.
Lexical Resource: Good range of technical vocabulary for describing the process, though "turning the movement of water into electrical energy" is plainer than the higher-band answer's more precise phrasing.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures.
Band 7
169 wordsAll eight stages are reported correctly and in order, but the overview stays descriptive rather than explaining why the process works.
The diagram gives information about how a hydroelectric power station makes electricity.
Overall, there are eight stages in the process, starting with storing water in a reservoir and ending with the water going back into the river.
First, a dam is built across a river to create a reservoir, which stores a large amount of water. The water is released through intake gates and flows down a pipe called a penstock, becoming faster as it goes down. This fast water hits a turbine at the bottom, which makes it spin.
The turbine is connected to a generator, which changes the movement into electricity. The electricity then goes through a transformer, which makes the voltage higher so it can travel far away through power lines to towns and cities. After the water goes through the turbine, it flows back into the river. This final stage completes the cycle, allowing the river to continue flowing downstream while the energy captured earlier is sent out to homes and businesses as usable electricity.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all eight stages accurately in the correct sequence with a basic overview, but the overview does not explain the underlying principle behind the process.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by sequence, though "then" and "which" are relied on repeatedly to link stages throughout.
Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; stages are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.
Band 6.5
154 wordsAll eight stages are correct and in order, but agreement and passive-voice errors appear in almost every sentence.
The diagram give information about how hydroelectric power station make electricity.
Overall, there is eight stage in the process, starting with storing water in reservoir and ending with the water going back into river.
First, dam is build across river to create reservoir, which store large amount of water. The water is release through intake gate and flow down pipe called penstock, becoming faster as it go down. This fast water hit turbine at bottom, which make it spin.
The turbine is connect to generator, which change the movement into electricity. The electricity then go through transformer, which make the voltage higher so it can travel far away through power line to town and city. After the water go through turbine, it flow back into river. This final stage complete the cycle, allowing the river to continue flowing downstream while the energy capture earlier is send out to home and business as usable electricity.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all eight stages accurately in the correct sequence, matching the content of the band 7 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by sequence, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.
Lexical Resource: Limited by "stage", "gate" and "line" being used without their plural forms throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement and passive-voice errors ("diagram give", "there is eight stage", "dam is build", "water is release") appear in nearly every sentence.
Band 4-5 - What to Avoid
41 wordsSix of the eight stages are missing entirely, and it closes with a personal opinion rather than describing the process.
This diagram show how power station make electricity from water.
Water go down and turn machine, this make electricity.
I think this is good way to make electricity because water is natural and clean, this is my opinion about this topic.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Only two of the eight stages are described in any way, the reservoir, penstock, transformer, and power lines are never mentioned at all, and the closing comment is an unrequested personal opinion that has no place in a process description. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.
Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as three short, disconnected remarks rather than an organised sequence of stages.
Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("go down", "turn machine") used instead of the specific technical terms shown in the diagram.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("diagram show", "water go down and turn machine").
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