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 first glance, in the beginning,,the cold water is pumped downwards through the injection well. In the following, the cold water is 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.

Subsequently, the condenser turns the hot water into the steam and the steam is sent to the turbine which rotates the turbine and sends it into the generator which converts the mechanical energy to electric energy for the production of electricity with the help of the system.Finally the electricity produced is ready to supply.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the geothermal energy production process, from the injection of cold water to the final electricity supply. You have identified the key features, such as the depth of the wells and the role of the turbine and generator. However, the description of the process is slightly inaccurate in places; for instance, the condenser does not turn hot water into steam; rather, it is the geothermal heat that creates the steam. To reach a higher band, ensure that the technical relationships between components are described with greater precision and that the summary is more balanced in its explanation of the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In the following', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' to signal the progression of the cycle. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'At a first glance' which is more suited to an opinion essay than a process description. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the stages of the process more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', and 'mechanical energy'. There are some instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'the pumping of the cold water took place' and 'the rotation of steam'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire to include more precise verbs and collocations related to technical processes would improve your score significantly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as the double comma in 'beginning,,the', and some awkward phrasing like 'the pumping of the cold water took place underground which is about 4.5 km'. Additionally, some articles are missing or misused, such as 'the rotation of steam'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for minor punctuation and article errors will help improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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