Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-09

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 shows that how electricity is generated by using geothermal energy. Electricity is produced in geothermal power plant. For this purpose, cold water is pumped down through injection wall to the geothermal zone. Water gets heated and pumped up to condenser. Steam runs the turbine and electricity is produced in generator. Cold water is pumped 4.5km down to the injection wall, from where it goes through the geothermal zone. Hot rocks present in there heat up the cold water and the water gets heated. Then the hot water is pushed towards the production wall. From production wall the hot water is pumped up towards the condenser. Steam from heated water passes through a hole and reaches the turbine. The steam runs the trubine. The power generated by turbine is used to powered the generator which is used to produce electricity. This electricity is than transferred to the towers which supply electricity across the city.

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 distribution of electricity. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. The description is largely a sequential list of steps rather than a cohesive summary of the main features. While the information is accurate, the lack of an introductory overview and the repetitive nature of the description (e.g., describing the heating process twice) limit the development of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized sequentially, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the paragraphing is ineffective; the second paragraph is quite long and could have been broken down to better distinguish between the underground and surface stages. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, with frequent use of 'then' and 'from'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the transition between the production wall and the condenser. Improving the variety of linking words and creating a more logical paragraph structure would significantly enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. Terms like 'injection wall' (likely referring to an injection well) and 'production wall' (production well) show some technical awareness, but there are errors in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'used to powered the generator' is grammatically incorrect and uses basic phrasing. The range is limited, and the response relies on simple, repetitive verbs like 'pumped', 'goes', and 'pushed'. Incorporating more precise technical vocabulary would improve the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'The diagram shows that how electricity is generated' (redundant 'that'), 'used to powered' (incorrect verb form), and 'This electricity is than transferred' (spelling error: 'than' instead of 'then'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and correct verb tense usage is needed.

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

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