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 diagram underneath exhibit how geothermal power is used to construct electricity.
In the summary, the information of geothermal power plant in cold water is forward the injection well and to on ward the production well and ahead the condenser to make stream through the generator to build the electricity.
Once heated, the water rises through a production well to the surface. At this stage, the hot water enters a condenser, where it is converted into steam.
The steam then drives a turbine, causing it to spin, which in turn powers a generator to produce electricity. The generated electricity is subsequently transmitted to the power grid for consumer use :
After passing through the turbine, the steam cools and condenses, and the water is often recycled back into the injection well, completing a sustainable cycle.
Overall, the system efficiently harnesses Earth's internal heat to generate electricity. Comparatively, the process highlights a continuous loop where water is repeatedly heated and converted into steam, demonstrating the renewable and sustainable nature of geothermal energy. The main features include the injection and production wells, the geothermal heating zone, the condenser, the turbine, and the generator, with energy transformation occurring from thermal to mechanical and finally to electrical energy
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the geothermal process, identifying the key components like the injection well, production well, turbine, and generator. However, the initial summary is confusing and contains inaccurate descriptions of the process flow. For instance, stating that cold water is injected and then immediately enters a condenser to become steam is technically incorrect based on the diagram, which shows the water being heated underground first. While the overall process is described, the lack of clarity in the opening paragraph and the slightly disjointed explanation of the energy transformation prevent this from reaching a higher band. The main features are present, but the logical flow of the technical description needs more precision.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the text. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or awkward. Phrases like 'In the summary, the information of geothermal power plant in cold water is forward the injection well' are difficult to follow and lack logical cohesion. While there is an attempt to use transition words, the connection between sentences is often strained, particularly in the second paragraph. The final paragraph provides a good summary, but the overall progression of ideas is hindered by the confusing phrasing in the earlier sections.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using technical terms such as 'geothermal', 'condenser', 'turbine', and 'generator'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'construct electricity' instead of 'generate electricity' and 'make stream' instead of 'produce steam'. These errors occasionally impede the clarity of the technical explanation. While the student demonstrates an attempt to use specific terminology, the lack of control over collocations and the misuse of basic verbs limit the score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions and verb forms, such as 'is forward the injection well' and 'to on ward the production well'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with an unnecessary colon at the end of a sentence. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction and the lack of control over complex structures prevent the response from achieving a higher band. The grammar is functional but lacks the accuracy required for a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.