Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram given demonstrates the use of geothermal energy in the production of electricity.

Overall, it is evident that, the process involves various steps from pumping cold water down to the geothermal zone to the steam entered in form of electricity in the generators. Moreover, all stages are very crucial in the generation of electricity by using geothermal power plant.

Examining the details, the process starts with the cold water pumped down from upper surface of the earth to the 4.5km in the injection well. From this point, cold water enters into the geothermal zone of the hot rocks. At this stage, cold water converted into the hot water and entered in the production well.

This is followed by, hot water pumped up from the production well into the condenser. In the condenser, the hot water turned into the steam. Finally, from condenser steam moved into the turbine and powered the turbine. After that, turbine powered the generator and produced electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the geothermal energy process, identifying the key stages from injection to electricity generation. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the entire cycle. While the main steps are mentioned, the explanation of the 'geothermal zone' and the transition between the condenser and turbine could be more precise. The response addresses the requirements of the task, but the development of the information is slightly limited, and the comparison between stages is minimal. To improve, ensure that the overview highlights the cyclical nature of the process more effectively and provides a more cohesive summary of how the components interact.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the start to the end of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Examining the details', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive or mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. For instance, the connection between the condenser and the turbine is somewhat abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction from the detailed process description, which helps the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the technical process clearly. Terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', and 'condenser' are used correctly. However, there is a lack of variety in the language, and some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'steam entered in form of electricity' or 'cold water converted into the hot water'. These minor inaccuracies do not impede communication, but they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Incorporating more precise verbs and collocations related to energy production would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles and verb forms, such as 'steam entered in form of electricity' and 'cold water converted into the hot water'. Additionally, there are issues with preposition usage and sentence construction, such as 'This is followed by, hot water pumped up'. These errors occur frequently enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the process. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing technical processes.

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