Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 illustrates the generation of electricity with the help of the geothermal energy. The flow chart shows that the whole process takes place in a few steps. Starting from the movement of the cold water down the earth to the generation of the electricity. The first step is the flow of cold water under the surface of soil. It is pumped down to about 4.5 kilometers. Then, moving through the injection well ,it goes through the mass of hot rocks called as geothermal zone. After that, it passes through the production well. Here, the temperature of water is higher as compared to the injection well. In comparison to the starting point, water is pumped up. It reaches the condenser, where steam is produced which helps to turn the turbine. The turning of turbine leads to the generation of electricity in the generator attached to the turbine. The electricity is supplied to the electric tower. This is how the whole process takes place.

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 generation of electricity. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1. While the key steps are identified, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a cohesive synthesis of how the components interact. To improve, you should provide a clear introductory summary that highlights the cyclical nature of the process and ensures all key features, such as the specific components like the 'condenser' and 'turbine', are integrated into a more analytical narrative rather than a simple list of steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically sequenced, following the chronological order of the diagram. However, the paragraphing is poor; the entire response is essentially one block of text, which hinders readability. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'The first step', 'Then', and 'After that', they are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect ideas more fluidly and ensure the text is divided into clear paragraphs—typically an introduction, a body paragraph detailing the process, and a concluding summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', and 'condenser' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'called as geothermal zone' and 'movement of the cold water down the earth'. The language is functional but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and avoiding repetitive sentence structures that rely on basic vocabulary to describe the movement of water and the generation of power.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'generation of electricity with the help of the geothermal energy' (the definite article is unnecessary here) and 'called as geothermal zone' (incorrect verb pattern). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some spacing issues between sentences. While the errors do not impede communication, the range of structures is not sufficiently wide or consistently accurate to reach a higher band. Focusing on more varied sentence beginnings and ensuring correct article usage would be beneficial.

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

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