Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-02
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 illustration represents how electricity is generated by geothermal power plant.
Overall, cold water converts into steam by passing through various steps and with the aid of condenser which results in production of electricity through generator, running by turbine.
Cold water transfers 4.5km underground into the injection well, passing through geothermal zone which also called hot rocks because it converts the chilled water into hot water. The hot water reaches into the production well where it pumped up into a chamber known as condenser, converting the hot water into vapors.
This evaporated water or steam plays a significant role in the function of turbine, which runs the generator afterwards. Generator is powered by turbine, which produces the electricity.
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 fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the main features of the geothermal process are identified, the description is underdeveloped. The explanation of the cycle is somewhat simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to fully report the information provided in the diagram. For instance, the transition between the production well and the condenser is described in a way that misses the technical nuance of the process. To improve, you must expand on the stages of the cycle and ensure all parts of the diagram are described with sufficient detail to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'Overall' and 'afterwards' are used, but the flow between sentences could be improved with more sophisticated linking words to show the progression of the geothermal cycle. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure feels disjointed due to the brevity of the paragraphs and the lack of complex logical connections between the stages of the power generation process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. You use basic terms such as 'cold water', 'hot water', and 'vapors'. While these are accurate, they are repetitive. There is an attempt to use technical terms like 'injection well', 'geothermal zone', and 'condenser', which is positive. However, to achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more varied and precise terminology related to energy production, such as 'geothermal reservoir', 'thermal energy', or 'pressurized steam'.
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 'which also called hot rocks' (missing 'is'), 'where it pumped up' (missing 'is'), and 'Generator is powered by turbine' (missing an article). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not completely impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and passive voice constructions, which are essential when describing technical processes.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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