Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-05
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 represented Man-made process chart depicts the information about production of electricity through cold water in a geothermal power plant.
Overall, it is crystal clear that this process is proceeded in 5 stages commencing with cold water pumped down from a container and ending with generating electricity through rotating generator with turbine.
At a fleeting glance, it is evident that the first step consists of cold water stored in container which is further pumped 4.5 kilometers under the ground and following this, coming with second step of The injection wall in which water is pumped to a part of earth which contains Geothermal zone and contain hot rocks and further in third step The production wall water turns into steam and again goes to earth's surface in a condenser.
Moving further, in next step steam goes to turbine through a small opening and the turbine got rotated by steam which rotates generator and produces electricity in fifth step . Then this electricity is transferred to needed place by wires on the tower.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the geothermal energy process, identifying the key stages from the initial pumping of water to the final generation of electricity. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the process as a whole. While the stages are identified, the explanation of the 'injection wall' and 'production wall' is slightly confusing due to phrasing, and the connection between the condenser and the turbine could be more precisely described. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the components is explained with greater clarity and that the summary highlights the cyclical nature of the process more effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'moving further', 'following this', and 'in the next step' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit repetitive or forced, and the sentence structure within paragraphs can be slightly disjointed. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the flow between the third and fourth paragraphs could be improved to better reflect the continuous nature of the geothermal cycle. Overall, the progression is logical, but the cohesion could be more sophisticated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'geothermal zone', 'condenser', and 'turbine' used correctly. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'process is proceeded' (should be 'proceeds' or 'takes place') and 'needed place' (should be 'power grid' or 'destination'). The phrase 'at a fleeting glance' is an inappropriate idiom for a formal report. To improve, focus on using more precise technical collocations and avoiding informal or redundant expressions. The range is sufficient to convey the main points but lacks the precision required for a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'production of electricity through cold water' (should be 'using cold water'), 'The injection wall in which water is pumped to a part of earth' (missing articles and awkward preposition use), and 'turbine got rotated' (passive voice should be 'is rotated'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some issues with capitalization and article usage. The errors do not significantly impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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