Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 illustrates the process of producing electricity using geothermal energy.

Overall, the process of generating electricity consists of several stages which start with pupming cold water down and end with the generation of electricity by turbine.

Al the initial of the process, cold water is pumped 4.5 kilometres down through the injection well.After pumping, the cold water down,it moves the geothermal zone, where it is heated by rocks hot.

For the remaining stages, hot water is pumped through the production well and transferred to the condenser. The following stage is, after condensing hot water is converted to steam.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process and give a basic overview, correctly noting that cold water is pumped down and electricity is produced at the end. You also describe the injection well, geothermal zone, production well and condenser, so the response is relevant. However, the account is incomplete: it stops at steam and does not explain that steam powers the turbine, which drives the generator to produce electricity. The overview’s claim that electricity is generated “by turbine” is also imprecise. The response is 99 words, below the required 150, and this limits how fully you can report the stages. To improve, cover the entire sequence and include a concise overview of how underground heating leads to electricity generation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and descriptions of the early and later stages. Sequencing phrases such as “Overall,” “At the initial of the process,” and “For the remaining stages” help signal progression. However, the final paragraph does not actually reach the turbine and generator, so the process lacks a clear ending. Some linking is awkward or repetitive, particularly “The following stage is, after condensing…” and the repeated references to pumping water. The sentence boundaries and spacing also make the flow less smooth. Organise the stages in a clear start-to-finish sequence, using one sentence for each connected group of steps and a final sentence to complete the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “geothermal zone,” “production well,” “condenser,” and “steam,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also some appropriate variation in describing movement, such as “pumped” and “transferred.” However, the range is limited, and several noticeable spelling or word-choice problems reduce precision: “pupming” appears to mean “pumping,” “Al” should be “At,” and “rocks hot” is an unnatural phrase. “Generation of electricity by turbine” is also not an accurate collocation for the final stages. Use standard process terms such as “heated by hot rocks,” “converted into steam,” and “drives the generator,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and more complex structures, including the overview clause “which start with…” and the sequence beginning “after condensing…”. However, the range is limited, and errors occur often enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. For example, “Al the initial of the process” has an incorrect phrase structure, while “After pumping, the cold water down,it moves…” has faulty clause construction and punctuation. In “the process…which start,” the verb does not agree with the singular subject, and “after condensing hot water is converted” leaves the relationship between the action and the water unclear. Practise accurate sequencing clauses and check subject–verb agreement, sentence boundaries, and commas.

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