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 figure below illustrates the whole process of generating electricity from geothermal energy.
In overview, cold water present in a tank is pumped down to hot rocks zone where from another well hot water is pumped out which then condensed to make steam and help to power the turbine which assist generator to originate electricity. Then electricity is supplied through towers.
There is a huge tank which contains cold water that has a 4.5km deep injection well where the cold water is pumped down deep in earth. The cold water went to the hot rocks zone which is known as geothermal zone while on the other side, there is production well where hot water from geothermal zone is pumped up to a container where it is condensed and convert into steam. The steam moves the turbine that powered the generator to create electricity that is then allocate the electricity throughout the city through towers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response successfully identifies the main stages of the geothermal energy production process. You have covered the key components, such as the injection well, the geothermal zone, the production well, and the turbine/generator system. However, the overview is slightly repetitive and lacks a clear, concise summary of the overall process flow. While you have addressed the task requirements, the description of the process could be more precise; for example, the term 'condensed' is used incorrectly, as the diagram shows the hot water being converted into steam, not condensed. To improve, ensure you accurately interpret the technical stages shown in the diagram and provide a more cohesive summary in the introduction.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into two paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a process description. You use some cohesive devices like 'In overview', 'while on the other side', and 'then', which help the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'where from another well hot water is pumped out'. The transition between the overview and the body paragraph could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one without unnecessary repetition.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'geothermal energy', 'injection well', 'turbine', and 'generator'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'originate electricity' (instead of 'generate') and 'allocate the electricity' (instead of 'distribute'). Additionally, the misuse of 'condensed'—which means turning gas into liquid, whereas the process describes turning liquid into steam—indicates a lack of precision. To improve, focus on using more accurate technical collocations and avoid repeating basic verbs like 'pumped' multiple times throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'cold water went to the hot rocks zone' should be in the present tense ('goes' or 'is directed'), and 'that powered the generator' should be 'that powers'. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'which assist generator' instead of 'which assists the generator'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focus on consistent tense usage and correct article placement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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