Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-19

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 6.5)

This diagram illustrates how electricity made by using geothermal energy.

Overall this process has 5 stages of producing electricity using geothermal energy which includes some mechanical work starting from pumping down the cold water into injecting well and to provide steam in turbines to generate electricity.

The first stage is to pump down the cold water around 4.5 km into the injecting well. The injecting well then pass this cold water into the geothermal zone that is hot rocks. The water pass through from extreme high temperature that makes it so hot. After passing the water from hot rocks the production well start pumping up the hot water into the surface. The hot water is then sent to a condenser where it converts into steam. After that the steam is directed towards a turbine. The pressure of steam causes the turbine to rotate .

Finally the rotating turbine powers a generator. The generator produces electricity, which can then be supplied to electricity network. Thus the geothermal heat from underground is converted into electricity through some simple stages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the geothermal energy production process. You have clearly outlined the movement from the injection well to the turbine and generator. However, the report could be improved by including more specific details from the diagram, such as the depth of the geothermal zone or the temperature range, to provide a more comprehensive summary. While the overview is present, it is somewhat repetitive in its phrasing. To reach a higher band, ensure that you synthesize the information rather than simply listing the steps sequentially, and highlight the cyclical nature of the process more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with a logical progression from the initial injection to the final electricity generation. You use basic cohesive devices like 'The first stage', 'After that', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. The transition between sentences could be smoother; for instance, the connection between the condenser and the turbine could be improved with more sophisticated linking words. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is easy to follow, but the flow lacks the flexibility required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including technical terms like 'geothermal zone', 'condenser', and 'turbines'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'electricity made by using' instead of 'electricity generated by' and 'pass this cold water into' instead of 'directs the cold water into'. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and variety needed for a higher score. To improve, try to incorporate more varied verbs and nouns related to industrial processes to avoid repeating simple terms like 'start' or 'produce'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'The water pass through' (subject-verb agreement) and 'the production well start pumping' (should be 'starts'). Additionally, the opening sentence is a fragment: 'This diagram illustrates how electricity made by using geothermal energy' is missing a verb like 'is'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring every sentence has a main verb will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.