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 diagram illustrates the whole process of producing an electricity using geothermal energy. It contains five steps in total. The water is stored at the surface level in the large container may be comes from a dam pumped down almost 4.5 kilo meter deep in the Earth. The cool water passes through the injection well toward the geothermal zone (hot rocks). The hot rocks heat the cold water. Then hot water moves toward the production well and then elevated to condenser. The condenser converts that hot water into the steam. Steam is used to run the turbine. At step number five the turbine powered the generator that produces an electricity. The powerlines distribute the electricity to consumers. In conclusion the water is heated from the rocks then converted into steam by condenser to moves the turbine. The turbine further drives generator. The generator produces an electricity provided to consumers via powerlines
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 energy process, from the initial injection of water to the final distribution of electricity. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. While the key features are identified, the comparison between stages is minimal. The inclusion of 'step number five' is a bit informal for an academic report. To improve, you should provide a clear introductory overview that highlights the cyclical nature of the process and ensure that the connection between the geothermal zone and the turbine is explained more fluidly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is generally coherent, with a logical step-by-step progression that follows the diagram. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on simple transitions like 'then' and 'and then'. The paragraphing is weak; the conclusion is merged into the same block as the body, which disrupts the visual structure of the report. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'as a result') and ensure that the conclusion is clearly separated as a distinct paragraph to provide a better summary of the process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with relevant technical terms such as 'injection well', 'geothermal zone', 'condenser', and 'turbine'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'producing an electricity' (electricity is uncountable) and 'may be comes from' (grammatically incorrect). The range is somewhat limited, and the repetition of basic verbs like 'moves' and 'produces' restricts the sophistication of the response. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding unnecessary articles before uncountable nouns.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'may be comes from' instead of 'may come from', 'an electricity' (used twice), and 'to moves the turbine' instead of 'to move the turbine'. Additionally, there are issues with subject-verb agreement and missing articles. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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