Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-21
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 process diagram illustrates the process of producing electricity from Geothermal power plant, from cold water to the final using generator and turbine to produce electricity.
Overall, production of electricity is a linear process consisting of 5 main stages. It begin with cold water pumped down towards the injection well to the production well, and ends with the hot water pumped up into condenser and passed to turbine and generator to produce electric power.
Initially, Cold water is store in the container above on the surface and then pumped all the way down which distant around 4.5 KM to the injection well and pushes water to go through the geothermal zone where rocks plays a crucial role to turn this cold water in to hot water, after that the process move to the next stage.
In the next stage, hot water moves to the production well and pumped up to the condenser which is an important stage because the hot water converted into steam and that will helps turbine to give power and these turbines connected with generator which get power from turbines to generate electrical energy in the final stage.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 process, identifying the key components such as the injection well, geothermal zone, and turbine. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in reporting the technical flow. For instance, the transition from the condenser to the turbine is described in a slightly confusing manner, and the role of the 'geothermal zone' is simplified. While the main features are highlighted, the response would benefit from a more analytical approach to the sequence of events rather than a simple narrative retelling of the diagram. The overview is present but could be more clearly defined as a summary of the entire process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In the next stage', 'after that'). There are instances where the flow between sentences is slightly disjointed, particularly in the third paragraph where the transition from the container to the injection well feels abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the stages of the process more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'injection well', 'geothermal zone', and 'condenser' used correctly. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'distant around 4.5 KM' instead of 'at a depth of 4.5 km' and 'final using generator'. The range is somewhat limited, and the student relies on basic verbs like 'go through' and 'get power' rather than more precise technical terminology. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on more sophisticated collocations related to industrial processes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('rocks plays', 'process move', 'that will helps') and incorrect preposition usage ('store in the container above on the surface'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences that lack proper clause separation. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would significantly improve the clarity of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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