Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26
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 below depicts how geothermal power plant utilise the geothermal energy for the production of electricity.
Overall, there are five steps we can witness from the diagram involved for the production of electricity using geothermal energy.
Firstly, cold water is pumped down for almost 4.5 kilometers to the injection well. Next, it pass from the hot rocks which is called geothermal zone and then to the production well. At this stage the water turns hot and then this hot water is pumped up and shifted to the condenser.
At the fourth step the water converted to steam in condenser and starts moving toward turbine. The turbine starts to work and roll by the help of steam which provide the power to turbine and then shift the energy toward the generator which produces the electricity and then this electricity is passed on to the tower.
It is evident that the most significant element of generating electricity is water. Without water electricity cannot be produced
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 energy process, from the injection well to the electricity tower. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of the condenser and turbine is slightly inaccurate, as the diagram shows the steam driving the turbine, not the water itself. While the main features are identified, the response lacks a more analytical approach to the process flow. The final sentence is an unnecessary personal observation rather than a summary of the diagram's technical information. To improve, focus on accurately describing the physical transformations (e.g., cold water to steam) and ensure all information is derived directly from the provided visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Next', and 'At the fourth step' are used to sequence the information. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'it pass from the hot rocks'. The transition between the turbine and the generator could be smoother. While the overall arrangement is coherent, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and lacks the flexibility required for a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using technical terms like 'geothermal energy', 'injection well', 'condenser', and 'generator'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'utilise the geothermal energy for the production' (which is slightly wordy) and 'shift the energy' (which is imprecise). The range is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated phrasing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'circulate', 'convert', or 'harness'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('it pass from the hot rocks', 'steam which provide the power') and tense inconsistencies. Additionally, there are missing articles and awkward phrasing, such as 'the water converted to steam' instead of 'the water is converted to steam'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and correct article 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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