Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-15
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 how electricity is generated using a geothermal energy plant.
Overall, 5 steps are needed to be done to produce electricity through a geothermal plant. Cooled water is pumped across geothermal zone where it gets hot. The hot water is now passed through a condenser which turns it into steam. The steam forces the turbine to rotate which generates energy and produce electricity.
Firstly, cold water at the ground level is transferred underground through a 4.5 km pipe to the injection well. The injection well injects the cold water onto hot rocks which is often called the geothermal zone. In this zone, the water gets warm due to the hot rocks and finally reaches the production well.
The warmed or hot water from the production well is now pumped up to reach condenser. The condenser condenses the hot water into steam. The steam passes through a shallow opening to reach turbine which can spin. The kinetic energy forces the turbine to spin which in result generates energy to produce electricity.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 provided a clear overview and followed the sequence of the diagram from the injection well to the turbine. However, there are some inaccuracies in the technical description; for instance, the diagram shows the condenser receiving steam, not hot water, and the process involves a heat exchanger rather than just a condenser. While the main features are reported, the description of the technical mechanism is slightly imprecise. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the components (like the heat exchanger and the turbine) is described with greater technical accuracy based on the visual evidence provided.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, following the chronological flow of the process. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'now', and 'finally' to link sentences. However, the cohesion is sometimes a bit mechanical, and the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be better connected to improve the flow of the text. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'geothermal energy plant', 'injection well', 'turbine', and 'kinetic energy'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as '5 steps are needed to be done' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'shallow opening' (which is not clearly supported by the diagram). While you attempt to use technical terminology, the phrasing is sometimes repetitive. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding wordy constructions. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as '5 steps are needed to be done' (passive voice misuse) and 'which in result generates' (should be 'as a result'). Additionally, there are some missing articles, such as 'reach condenser' instead of 'reach the condenser'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the process. To achieve a higher score, work on improving your control over complex sentence structures and ensure consistent use of articles and prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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