Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18
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)
In this diagram, production of electricity from geothermal energy is explained. As we all know, geothermal energy is one of the major sources of energy which is used for electricity production. A dive-in into the process would help us understand the entire process in detail.
As the name indicates, this process involves energy production from Geo, meaning Earth and Thermal, meaning Heat. The process starts as the cold water from the surface of earth is pumped down through layers of earth. These layers go approximately 4.5km deep inside the earth, through the Injection well. At this much depth, the earth is in its heated zone, called Geothermal zone, with hot rocks being part of the embed. This layer of hot rocks is used as a resource for energy production. The cold water that was pumped down through the injection Well, is passed through these hot rocks horizontally and then carried forward and upward through the production well. The cold water while passing from the hot rocks now becomes hot water and that hot water is pumped up through the production well to the surface of earth.
When the hot water comes up to the surface, it is condensed into a condenser to maintain it temperature, which in return is further steamed out through a narrow pathway. This pathway opens into a Turbine in which the water flows forward. This turbine is powered by steam. The water from this turbine then passes into a generator, which is powered by the turbine. This step of the entire process produces electricity which is then further shifted and divided onto grids.
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 covers the main stages of the geothermal energy process, from the injection of cold water to the production of electricity. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is essential for Task 1. The introduction is somewhat informal and includes unnecessary commentary ('As we all know'). While the sequence of events is described, the response would benefit from a more analytical approach that highlights the cyclical nature of the process. The description of the condenser and turbine is generally accurate, but the explanation of the steam generation is slightly imprecise, as the diagram shows the water turning to steam before the turbine, not after the condenser.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized, following the chronological flow of the diagram. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction from the main process steps. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on simple transitions like 'The process starts' and 'When the hot water comes up'. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to show the relationship between the different stages of the process. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more cohesive and professional academic tone.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some technical terms used correctly, such as 'injection well', 'geothermal zone', and 'turbine'. However, the range is somewhat limited and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'embed' (used incorrectly) and 'shifted and divided onto grids'. The phrasing is occasionally informal, such as 'A dive-in into the process', which is not suitable for an academic report. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary and avoid conversational fillers.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'maintain it temperature' (should be 'its') and 'divided onto grids' (preposition error). There are also minor punctuation and article usage errors throughout the text. The sentence structures are functional but lack the variety and sophistication required for a higher band. The majority of the sentences are understandable, but the errors are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching the 7.0 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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