Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-09

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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the sequential steps to produce electricity from geothermal energy.

The procedure takes 5 steps in total, starting from sending cool water into the injection well, which is about 4.5 km deep into the ground to transferring the produced steam into the generator that runs it to make electricity. A number of mechanical instruments like condenser, turbine, generator was required to finish the procedure.

At first, cold water is sent to 4.5 km deep underground zone where the injection well is located. Next, the injection well send the water to geothermal zone, where hot rocks turn the temperature of the water up. Here, the water receives the geothermal energy that will be transformed into electricity. In the third step, the hot water is pumped to the condenser at the ground.

In the following steps, the condenser heats the water which transforms it to steam. The steam is then transferred to the turbine which is run by it. The generator, run by the turbine, transforms the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Finally the produced electricity is transmitted to the consumers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the geothermal energy process. You have clearly outlined the sequential steps from the injection of water to the final transmission of electricity. The overview is functional, and you have highlighted the key components such as the injection well, condenser, turbine, and generator. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly mention the cycle nature of the process, as the diagram shows water returning to the injection well, which is a significant feature. Overall, the information is accurate and covers the requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction followed by a step-by-step description of the process. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the initial setup from the mechanical stages. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'At first', 'Next', 'In the third step', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the sequence. The progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow. To improve, ensure that referencing is precise; for example, 'the injection well send' should be 'sends', and ensure that pronouns clearly refer back to their antecedents to maintain smooth flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using technical terms like 'geothermal energy', 'injection well', 'condenser', and 'turbine' correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'turn the temperature of the water up' (which is informal) and 'mechanical instruments' (where 'components' or 'equipment' would be more precise). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the process clearly, incorporating more sophisticated collocations would elevate the response to a higher band.

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 that persist. For instance, subject-verb agreement issues occur, such as 'the injection well send' instead of 'sends', and 'condenser, turbine, generator was required' instead of 'were required'. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article usage errors (e.g., 'the condenser at the ground'). Despite these errors, they do not impede communication, and the structure of the report remains coherent throughout.

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.