Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-31

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 depicts that how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.

Overall, in this process electricity is produced throughout five different stages. Firstly, cold water turned in to steam and travelled through the geothermal zone. Furthermore, the turbine powered by the steam then transferred to the generator.

It can be seen that at the first stage cold water is used to start the process. This cold water pumped with the pressure almost 4.5 km deep. After that this water transferred to the injection well where the water go through the geothermal zone and turned in to hot water with the help of hot rocks. In the next stage the hot water go through the production well and pumped up in to the condenser. In the condenser hot water turned in to the steam and transferred in to the turbine through a pipe which powered by steam. At the last stage, generator powered by turbine and produces electricity. This electricty go through the power plants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the geothermal energy process, identifying the key components such as the injection well, production well, condenser, and turbine. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the entire system. While the process is outlined, the connection between the stages could be more effectively synthesised to highlight the cyclical nature of the energy production. The summary is functional but lacks the depth required for a higher band, as it essentially lists the steps rather than providing a cohesive report on the mechanism.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression from the start to the end of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', 'After that', and 'In the next stage' are used to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by varying the sentence structure and using more sophisticated transitions to connect the stages of the process more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with appropriate technical terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', 'condenser', and 'turbine'. However, the range is limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs such as 'turned', 'go', and 'powered'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'electricty go through the power plants', which is slightly imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied and precise vocabulary to describe the physical changes and mechanical actions involved in the process.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'powered by the steam'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'water go through'), and tense inconsistencies (e.g., 'cold water turned in to steam'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic verb tenses and ensuring consistent use of articles and prepositions, as these errors currently limit the clarity and professional tone of the report.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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