Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-20
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 diagram illustrates about geothermal energy process in order to generate electricity.
To begin with, the initial stage of power plant starts with cold water, where the water is pumped downwards around 4.5km in the injection well. Now, it passes through Geothermal zone which has hot rocks, the rocks will rise the temperature so that the water gets hot and boils up.
Moreover, after that the hot water is pumped up through a production well which will later helps to transfer in condenser, which will converted into steam. The steam will work together with a turbine which rotates and creates power that supports the generator to produce electricity. It will now merge with tower, where every section gets power to run the machines of the tower.
In conclusion, technically it has total five major steps in order to work a Geothermal plant, where each steps depends on each other in a way that creates an electrical power.
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 well to the production of electricity. However, the description is somewhat superficial. The student identifies the key components but fails to clearly explain the relationship between the components, such as the specific role of the condenser or the cooling tower in the cycle. The overview is also quite weak, merely stating that there are five steps rather than highlighting the cyclical nature of the process or the key transformation of energy. To reach a higher band, the response should provide a more precise summary of the technical flow and ensure all parts of the diagram are integrated into a cohesive explanation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' provides a basic structure. However, the internal cohesion within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Now, it passes through...' and 'It will now merge with tower'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the mention of 'five major steps' is not clearly mapped out in the preceding text. Improving the flow between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'injection well', 'geothermal zone', 'condenser', and 'turbine'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'illustrates about', 'the rocks will rise the temperature' (should be 'raise'), and 'helps to transfer in condenser'. These errors occasionally distract the reader. To improve, the student should focus on more accurate collocations and avoid redundant phrasing. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning but lacks the precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the rocks will rise the temperature', 'which will later helps to transfer') and incorrect verb forms ('which will converted into steam'). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are run-on or lack necessary articles. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent verb tense usage and correct sentence construction will significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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