Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-01

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 6.0)

The picture here depicts how electricity can be produced by geothermal energy with the help of cold water from the environment.

Overall, There is a geothermal zone consisting hot rocks with a condenser and turbine with generator connected to the electric tower.

Firstly, The process of converting geothermal energy is started by pumping down cold water from a cold water tank 4.5 km below the surface of earth. There is a injection well below which will pass the cold water through geothermal zone which consists of red hot rocks. Then this water is stored in the production well which is also underneath the ground on same level as injection well.

Moreover, The hot water is then pumped up to the surface where there is a condenser which converts this water to steam. This steam is then used to power the turbine. When turbine starts rotating, it starts to power generator which ultimately produces electricity. This power is then transmitted to electric tower which are placed in different regions near the power plant and then it is used by government and household.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the geothermal energy process well. You have identified the key stages, such as the injection of cold water, the heating process in the geothermal zone, and the conversion to steam to power the turbine. However, the description of the 'condenser' is inaccurate; in this diagram, the condenser is typically used to cool the steam back into water, not to create steam. Additionally, the final mention of the electricity being used by 'government and household' is an inference not supported by the provided diagram. To improve, focus strictly on the visual information provided and ensure technical terms are used correctly based on the flow of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to the process steps. You use transition signals like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Then' to guide the reader. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more balanced. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the 'condenser' and the 'turbine' could be explained with more cohesive flow to better reflect the cyclical nature of the process. Overall, the information is arranged in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', and 'production well' correctly. However, there are some word choice issues, such as 'The picture here depicts' (which is slightly informal for an academic report) and 'electric tower' (which is better described as 'power lines' or 'transmission towers'). There is also a slight repetition of basic verbs like 'starts' and 'power'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise technical collocations and avoid overly simplistic phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'consisting hot rocks' (should be 'consisting of'), 'is started by pumping' (passive voice is fine, but the phrasing is slightly clunky), and 'on same level' (missing an article). Additionally, there are some punctuation and capitalization errors, such as the unnecessary capitalization of 'There' and 'The' after commas. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles.

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

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