Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-08

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The diagram illustrate the process of how geothermal energy is used to make electricity from 1 to 5. This shows how man made technology is fused with natural process to make electricity which is one of the greatest invention of Mankind.

Initally the cold water is stored in large tanks afterwards it is pumped down through 4.5 KM long pipe creating immense pressure reaching to injection well. Afterards hot rocks pass water through production well and it is pumped up through 4.5 KM long pipes to the large condenser.

The condenser store ample amount of steam and pass it through narrow funnel to turbine which spins around producing energy. Once energy is created it is transfered to generators which converts energy into electricity. Finally the electricity is transfered through long Grid to the power station which ultimately provide electricity for commercial and domestic use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process as a sequence and include several key stages: cold water is sent underground, heated by hot rocks, brought back up, and used to produce electricity. However, the account is only partially accurate and developed. The condenser does not store steam; it releases steam, and the diagram shows hot water rising through the production well, not travelling through a 4.5 km pipe (the depth label applies to the injection well). The final connection is to a transmission pylon, not a power station, and commercial or domestic use is not shown. The opening also adds an irrelevant opinion about the invention. The response is 144 words, below the required 150; add a concise, accurate overview and clarify the stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence, supported by time markers such as “Initially,” “Afterwards,” and “Finally.” The three paragraphs also separate the introduction, underground process, and electricity generation, giving the account an overall arrangement. However, some links are mechanical, and the progression is weakened by unclear or inaccurate connections—for example, “Afterards hot rocks pass water through production well” does not clearly explain that water is heated as it passes through the geothermal zone. The final sentence introduces uses of electricity that are not part of the diagram. Improve cohesion by describing each stage in order and using clear references such as “the heated water” and “this steam,” while keeping the account focused on the process shown.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “condenser,” “turbine,” and “generators,” which helps identify the equipment. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “immense pressure” and “narrow funnel,” but these are either unsupported by the diagram or imprecise. Several word choices and collocations reduce accuracy: “hot rocks pass water” reverses the relationship, “the condenser store” misdescribes its function, and “long Grid” is not the appropriate term for the pictured transmission connection. Spelling errors such as “Initally,” “Afterards,” and “transfered” are noticeable. Prefer precise process verbs such as “heat,” “pump,” “release,” and “drive,” and use the diagram’s labels where possible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the sequence is mostly understandable. However, errors occur frequently enough to make some relationships unclear. For example, “The diagram illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the condenser store” and “which converts” also require agreement with their subjects. The sentence “Afterards hot rocks pass water through production well” has an unclear grammatical structure, and “it is transfered to generators which converts” contains problems with both the passive construction and agreement. Articles and plurals are also inconsistent, as in “to turbine” and “large tanks.” Use a reliable pattern for each stage—“Water is pumped…,” “It is heated…,” and “Steam drives…”—and check agreement, articles, and punctuation when editing.

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