Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-11

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 evaluate the electricity produced by geothermal energy.

Overall, we can state that Cold water is converted into hot water to produce steam, basically electricity is produced by steam.

In first step, cold water is transfered to the injection well by cold water pump and its length is 4.5 km. In the next step water passed through geothermal zone which is also called hot rocks. On third step from production well hot water passed through hot water pump to upwards and reached into condenser and that is the fourth step.

In condenser Steam is produced due to hot water and that is transfer to turbine which is powered by steam on fifth step that is converted into generator, powered by turbine and electricity is produced in generator after that electricity is transfer into a big transformer. Transformer is the point at which electricity is convey to domestic society, for the use of households.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the geothermal energy process, identifying the key stages from injection to electricity distribution. However, the description is somewhat mechanical, listing steps rather than synthesizing the information into a cohesive report. While the main features are present, the analysis lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole, and the comparison of stages is limited. The introduction is also slightly inaccurate, as the diagram shows a process rather than evaluating it. To improve, focus on grouping related stages and providing a more professional summary of the overall mechanism.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and repetitive, relying heavily on phrases like 'In first step', 'In the next step', and 'On third step'. This makes the flow feel mechanical rather than natural. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the turbine, generator, and transformer could be more smoothly linked. Improving the variety of transition words and using more sophisticated referencing would enhance the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite limited and repetitive. Words like 'produced', 'transfer', and 'step' are used frequently. There is little attempt to use more precise or academic terminology related to energy production (e.g., 'harnessing', 'geothermal reservoir', 'power grid'). Some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'domestic society' instead of 'the national grid' or 'residential areas'. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary and vary your word choices to avoid repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The Diagram evaluate' (subject-verb agreement), 'water is transfered' (spelling/passive voice), and 'that is converted into generator' (missing article). There are also issues with punctuation and sentence boundaries, such as the run-on sentence in the final paragraph. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of verb forms and passive constructions.

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.