Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-04

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)

This picture illustrates that how electricity is produced step by step using one of the most advantageous method of geothermal energy.

The process in the diagram identifies the six parts starting from gathering the cold water as ending at the electricity production.

In the start we stored the whole cold water into a huge container from which it directed towards the tunnel or the pipeline which is made almost 4.5 km long in the deep ground.Moreover when the water reaches to the injection well the pressure of the water pushes the water further to the hot rocks and then to the production well.Apart from that,the hot water is pumped up to the condenser where a lot of steam creates furthermore,it goes to the turbine powered by steam and then to the generator works with the help of turbine motor.Finally the whole process is completed and the electricity is produced.After the production of electricity it directly transfered to the pole from where everyone can utilize it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the geothermal energy process, from the initial water storage to electricity distribution. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole. While the key steps are identified, the explanation of the mechanism (e.g., how the turbine and generator interact) is slightly simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should aim to synthesize the information more effectively in an introductory overview and ensure that the relationship between the components is described with greater technical precision rather than just listing them sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into a single block of text, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of the process. A more effective approach would be to use distinct paragraphs for different stages of the cycle. While some cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'Moreover', 'Apart from that', 'Finally'), they are sometimes used in a mechanical or slightly unnatural way. The referencing is generally clear, but the lack of paragraphing significantly impacts the logical flow and the overall structure of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate to describe the process, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'advantageous method' instead of 'efficient process' or 'source'. Phrases like 'a lot of steam creates' are imprecise and grammatically weak. To improve, focus on using more technical terminology related to energy production (e.g., 'geothermal reservoir', 'thermal energy', 'conversion') and avoid repetitive or overly simplistic phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally hinder readability. Examples include 'illustrates that how', 'the whole cold water', and 'it directly transfered'. There are also issues with article usage and verb tense consistency. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the high frequency of minor errors in basic sentence construction prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct verb forms will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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