Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-19
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 displays the generation of electricity using geothermal energy.
Overall, the generation of electricity in Geothermal power plant involves five main steps. It begins with cold water being pumped down inside the earth and ends at energy being stored in generators due to rotating turbines powered by steam.
The first step begins with cold water stored above the ground being pumped down inside the Earth followed by its movement from the injection well through a geothermal zone of hot rocks. Third step displays pumping up of this hot water through the production well, after this this hot water condenses in the condenser above the ground and steam is accumulated inside it. In the last step this steam is forced to move through a turbine which rotates and generates electricity and gets stored in a generator which later is supplied to electricity towers.
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 student has attempted to summarise the main features of the geothermal energy diagram, identifying the five main steps from cold water pumping to electricity generation. However, the response falls short of the required 150-word minimum, containing only 143 words. This negative impact on length leads to a penalty under Task Achievement. On a positive note, the key stages such as the injection well, geothermal zone, production well, condenser, and turbine are correctly mentioned, though some specific details like the 4.5 km depth are omitted. To improve, the student should expand slightly on specific numerical data or structural features shown in the diagram to ensure both a more comprehensive overview and adequate word count.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The text demonstrates a clear overall progression, moving logically from the beginning of the process to the final electricity generation stage. Cohesive devices such as "Overall," "It begins with," "The first step begins with," and "In the last step" are used appropriately to structure the response. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped, as the entire summary is grouped into an introduction followed by a single block of text instead of breaking the process into logical stages across separate paragraphs. Reference words are occasionally clumsy, such as the repetitive use of "this hot water" in the final paragraph. Improving paragraph division and varying cohesive devices would elevate this score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate vocabulary range suited to a process diagram, incorporating appropriate technical terms such as "geothermal energy," "injection well," "geothermal zone," "condenser," and "turbine." However, lexical control is somewhat limited and repetitive, with frequent reuse of basic verbs like "pumping," "stored," and "moves." There is also a minor phrasing awkwardness in "ends at energy being stored in generators." While the task-specific terminology is mostly accurate, the lack of more sophisticated lexical items and collocation variety keeps the score at the mid-level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as participial phrases ("cold water being pumped down") and relative clauses ("which rotates and generates electricity"). Grammatical control is generally decent, but there is a notable punctuation and phrasing error in the final sentence ("after this this hot water condenses...") and a missing article in "in Geothermal power plant." Furthermore, some sentences become overly long and run-on due to excessive coordination without proper punctuation breaks. Overall, simple structures are mostly accurate, while complex structures contain occasional slips that require minor effort from the reader.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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