Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-20
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 given diagram shows the process of production of electricity from geothermal energy.
overall,the process is initiated from cold water which undergoing thermal changes and finally producing electricity.It undergoes 5 major changes.
Initially the coldwater is pumped down into the geothermal zone through the injection well which is
4.5km deep in the gound.The geothermal zone consists of hot rocks,hence the cold water is transformed into hot water this step is the most crucial step in this process.
The hot water is pumped up by the production well and undergoes the next step called the condensation by the condenser then forming the steam.The steam goes through turbine which it powers it goes through generator which is powered by turbine and finally produces the electricity.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student successfully identifies the main purpose of the diagram, which illustrates how a geothermal power plant generates electricity. Key stages of the process are mentioned, such as pumping cold water down a 4.5 km injection well, heating it via hot rocks in the geothermal zone, pumping the hot water up, condensing it into steam, and finally using a turbine and generator to produce electricity. However, the response fails to meet the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 123 words. This under-length shortfall directly impacts the extent of detail and development expected in an Academic Task 1 response, capping the achievement score. Furthermore, while the general flow is outlined, the overview is brief and lacks sufficient expansion on the specific cyclical or continuous nature of the mechanics.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The text demonstrates a basic level of organisation, moving chronologically through the stages of the geothermal process from cold water storage to electricity generation. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'hence', and 'finally' are employed to sequence the steps. However, paragraphing is poorly handled; the entire response is compressed into an introductory sentence followed by a single massive block of text, which significantly hinders readability. Additionally, punctuation errors (such as missing spaces after periods and commas, as seen in 'overall,the process') and mechanical referencing reduce the overall coherence and logical flow of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for conveying the basic mechanical steps of the process, incorporating topic-specific terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', 'condenser', 'turbine', and 'generator'. However, the lexical range remains limited, and there is repetition of basic verbs and phrases ('the process', 'steps', 'pumped'). Furthermore, there are notable word formation and spacing errors, such as 'coldwater' and 'gound', alongside slightly unnatural phrasing like 'undergoing thermal changes'. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the core message, but lacks the precision and flexibility associated with higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses ('the injection well which is 4.5km deep') and participial phrases. However, grammatical accuracy is undermined by frequent punctuation and structural errors. There are run-on sentences and comma splices, such as 'The geothermal zone consists of hot rocks,hence the cold water is transformed into hot water this step is the most crucial step in this process.' Sentences like 'The steam goes through turbine which it powers it goes through generator' exhibit severe grammatical breakdown and awkward phrasing. While some simple structures are error-free, the high frequency of punctuation omissions and syntactic flaws restricts the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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