Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The given diagram illustrates how electricity is produced through geothermal energy.

Overall, the production of electricity involves five stages, which starts with cold water and ends with turbine generator. The whole process is carried out in a geothermal power plant.

Firstly, cold water is pumped down to a depth of 4.5km from one end of the power plant, where water is injected into the ground. Below the ground, the water passes through hot rocks and this area is called the geothermal zone. In the third step, there is a production well which pumps hot water up to the condenser. The hot water turns into vapor and takes the form of steam. Steam from the condenser is used to move the turbine in a circular motion. Finally, the moving turbines give energy to the generator and as a result it produces electricity. The generator is connected to the electric pole to supply electricity to other areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the geothermal energy production process, from the injection of cold water to the final distribution of electricity. The overview is clear, identifying the five-stage process. However, the description of the process could be more analytical. For instance, the transition from the condenser to the turbine is described, but the relationship between the steam pressure and the turbine's rotation could be more explicitly linked to the 'main features' of the diagram. While the key information is present, the report lacks a slightly more sophisticated synthesis of how the components interact as a closed-loop system, which would elevate the response to a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In the third step', and 'Finally' helps guide the reader through the stages. However, the paragraphing is quite limited; the entire body of the explanation is contained within one paragraph. Splitting the process into two distinct paragraphs—perhaps separating the underground extraction phase from the surface electricity generation phase—would improve the overall structure and flow. Referencing is generally clear, though some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and accurately describes the technical process, using terms like 'geothermal zone', 'condenser', 'vapor', and 'turbine'. There is some repetition of basic verbs like 'produced' and 'pumps'. To achieve a higher band, you should aim for more varied and precise collocations. For example, instead of saying 'gives energy to the generator', you could use 'powers the generator' or 'drives the generator'. The range is sufficient to convey the information clearly, but it lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, 'the production of electricity involves five stages, which starts with...' contains a minor subject-verb agreement error ('stages' is plural, so it should be 'start'). There is a good attempt at using passive voice, which is appropriate for describing a technical process. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses or more varied subordinating conjunctions to link the stages of the process more fluidly.

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