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 given process chart illustrates the information about the man-made geothermal power plant used for the production of electricity with the help of several machines.
Overall, it is crystal clear that firstly the pumping of the cold water took place underground which is about 4.5 km and ends up with the rotation of steam in the turbine to power the generator.
At a fleeting glance, in the beginning,the cold water has pumped downwards through the injection well. In the following, the cold water has sent to the geothermal zone where water is heated to increase the temperature with the help of hot rocks and hot water is pumped upwards through the production well.
Moving further, moreover the condenser turns the hot water into the steam and the steam is sent to the turbine which rotates the steam and send it into the generator which converts the mechanical energy to electric energy for the production of electricity with the help of turbine.Finally the electricity produced is ready to supply.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the geothermal process, from injection to electricity production. However, the description of the process is somewhat inaccurate in places; for example, the text states the condenser turns hot water into steam, whereas the diagram shows the geothermal zone heating the water and the condenser cooling the steam. Additionally, the overview is a bit repetitive and lacks a clear summary of the key transformation stages. While the main features are identified, the lack of precision in describing the technical process prevents a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and the progression of ideas follows the flow of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'In the following', 'Moving further', and 'Finally' are used to link the stages. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced, such as 'At a fleeting glance' and 'Moving further, moreover'. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to sound more natural and less like a list of steps.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', and 'production well'. However, there is some awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'the rotation of steam in the turbine' (the steam rotates the turbine) and 'the condenser turns the hot water into the steam' (which is technically incorrect). The range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but the lack of precision in technical terminology limits the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice construction, such as 'the cold water has pumped' (should be 'is pumped') and 'the cold water has sent' (should be 'is sent'). These errors are frequent but do not generally impede the reader's understanding of the process. A wider range of error-free complex structures would be required to reach a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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