Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-29
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 given illustrates how geothermal energy is used to generate electricity in a geothermal power plant.
At the hit of the nail, it is clearly seen that it consist five steps. To begin with, cold water is pumped 4.5km underground through an injection well. It then passes through the geothermal zone , where hot rocks heat the water . The heated water subsequently travels upward through the production well.
Another remarkable feature is that, the hot water is pumped into a condenser , where it is converted into steam. In next stage, the steam then moves towards a turbine, which help to rotate it. This turbine is connected to a generator, which is powered by turbine and helps to produce electricity. Thus, geothermal heat is transformed into electrical energy.
In the epilogue, the process of generating electricity is simple and straightforward in which each step is important.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides an overview of the process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the main features of the geothermal process are identified, the description is somewhat brief. The summary lacks a clear, comprehensive overview of the entire cycle, particularly the return of water to the injection well, which is a key part of the diagram. Because the response is under-length and lacks sufficient detail to fully cover all stages of the process, it does not fully address the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'subsequently', and 'In next stage' are used to link ideas. However, the transition between the turbine and the generator is slightly mechanical. The concluding paragraph is unnecessary for a process description and uses an inappropriate register ('In the epilogue'), which disrupts the academic tone. Overall, the progression is clear, but the use of cohesive devices could be more natural and varied.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', and 'condenser' used correctly. However, there are instances of unnatural phrasing, such as 'At the hit of the nail' (an incorrect idiom) and 'In the epilogue' (which is not suitable for a technical report). These errors indicate a lack of precision in word choice. To reach a higher band, you should avoid idiomatic expressions that do not fit the formal context of an Academic Task 1 report.
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 'The given illustrates' (missing a noun like 'diagram'), 'it consist five steps' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'In next stage' (missing an article). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall fluency. The sentence structure is generally functional, but more attention to articles, subject-verb agreement, and formal sentence construction is needed to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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