Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-03

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 process describes the various steps which are in geothermal to produce electricity. It is evident that 5 no. of steps are included in this process. This is a gradual process.

To commence with, it is noticeable that first of all cold water is pumped down to a depth of approximately 4.5 km through the injection well. After that, passes through the geothermal zone, where there are extremely hot rocks. Moreover, as the water travels through this area it is heated by the rocks. In the next stage, the hot water is pumped back to the surface through a separate pipe called the production well. Once it reaches the geothermal power plant the hot water enters a condenser, it is converted into steam. The steam is then directed towards a turbine. Finally, the force of the steam causes the turbine to rotate. Later on, the rotating turbine power produce electricity. The electricity is susequently transmitted through power lines for use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the geothermal energy production process. You have identified the key features, such as the injection well, the geothermal zone, and the turbine. However, the overview is weak; stating 'this is a gradual process' does not effectively summarize the overall transformation of energy. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a more analytical overview that highlights the cyclical nature of the process or the primary energy conversion. While you have reported the steps, the description lacks a clear comparison or synthesis of how the components interact as a complete system, which is essential for a high-scoring Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of the process. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'After that', 'Moreover', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, with a very short introductory paragraph and a long second paragraph. Additionally, some transitions feel a bit mechanical. To improve, try to group related steps into distinct paragraphs—for example, separating the underground extraction phase from the surface power generation phase—and use a wider variety of linking words to improve the flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including technical terms like 'injection well', 'geothermal zone', 'condenser', and 'turbine'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as '5 no. of steps' (which is informal and redundant) and 'rotating turbine power produce electricity' (which is grammatically awkward and imprecise). To improve, focus on using more precise verbs and avoiding abbreviations. Expanding your vocabulary to include more sophisticated descriptors for the movement of fluids or the conversion of energy would help you achieve a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'the various steps which are in geothermal' is awkward, and 'the rotating turbine power produce electricity' contains a subject-verb agreement error. Additionally, 'it is converted into steam' lacks a clear subject reference. You should aim for more error-free sentences by proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that relative clauses are used correctly. Increasing the variety of complex structures, such as using passive voice more consistently for process descriptions, would also be beneficial.

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

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