Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-13

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 shows how geothermal energy can be used to generate electricity. In the overview, the process starts with cold water and goes from the geothermal zone to the generator turbine to generate electricity.

At the start of the process, cold water can be used in the initial stage of the process to generate electricity. Then it is pumped down the pipe for 4.5 km; it will reach the injection well, then cross to the geothermal zone, then the production well, and the hot water is pumped up to the condenser.

The condenser will process this water into steam, then pass this steam to the turbine through the pipe. This steam will pass through the turbine and then go to the generator. The generator converts this steam into electricity, and this steam will return to the condenser; then it will go to the turbine, and the generator will produce the electricity. In this way, the geothermal power plant will produce electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully covers all main steps of the process shown in the diagram, ranging from the cold water injection down to the 4.5 km depth, passing through the geothermal zone, and finally reaching the turbine and generator to produce electricity. While an overview is attempted at the beginning, it is somewhat mechanical and brief ("the process starts with cold water and goes from the geothermal zone..."). The student correctly identifies and sequences the key stages of the process, fulfilling the core requirements of Task 1. However, some minor details are slightly repetitive or underdeveloped, such as the redundant looping mentioned at the end of the text. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, placing it firmly at a Band 6.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical chronological progression through the diagram's steps. The student uses basic cohesive devices to connect sentences and stages, such as "At the start of the process", "Then", and "after". However, referencing and cohesion can be repetitive and mechanical, as seen in the frequent reuse of "then" and phrases like "this steam will pass through the turbine and then go to the generator. The generator converts this steam into electricity, and this steam will return to the condenser; then it will go to the turbine..." Paragraphing is also underdeveloped, with the main body compressed into overly dense blocks of text rather than being clearly structured by stages. This places the response at Band 5.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating subject-specific terms from the diagram such as "geothermal zone", "injection well", "production well", "condenser", "turbine", and "generator". However, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is noticeable repetition of basic verbs and nouns (e.g., "process", "water", "steam", "electricity"). The student makes minor lexical inaccuracies, such as saying the condenser will "process this water into steam" (when condensers typically cool steam into water, though the diagram shows a specific sequence here). Because the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main steps despite being repetitive and lacking flexibility, it fits the Band 5.5 descriptors well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional or relative-style clauses ("cold water can be used in the initial stage of the process to generate electricity", "Then it is pumped down the pipe for 4.5 km; it will reach the injection well..."). There is good control over basic verb tenses, and punctuation is generally acceptable with clear sentence boundaries. However, there are awkward phrasings and slight grammatical strain when attempting longer structures, such as repetitive use of future modals ("it will reach", "it will go", "the generator will produce"). Errors do not impede communication, allowing the response to achieve a Band 6.0 for grammatical range and accuracy.

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

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