Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-23
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 6.5)
The diagram illustrates how electricity is produced from geothermal energy.
Overall, the process has five main stages. The process takes place in a geothermal power plant. It starts when cold water is pumped down to the injection wall, then to the production well. Afterwards, it is pumped up to the condenser, and finally to the generator turbine.
The production begins when cold water is pumped down, 4.5km down to the injection wall. The water then goes through the geothermal zone to the production well. The geothermal zone contains hot rocks, that help in turning the cold water hot. After that, the water, now hot is pumped 4.5 km up to the condenser. In the condenser, the hot water is turned into steam.
Afterwards, the steam goes through a turbine that is powered by steam. The steam then goes through a generator, that is powered by turbines, to finally produce electricity.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The student successfully covers all parts of the task by summarising the main features of the geothermal energy production process and making logical references to the stages shown in the diagram. An overview is provided, noting that the process has five main stages. Key data points, such as the 4.5 km depth of the wells, are correctly identified. However, there are minor factual inaccuracies or awkward phrasings regarding the technical components, such as referring to the 'injection well' repeatedly as 'injection wall' and confusing the 'generator' and 'turbine' relationship in the final stage. Despite these minor lapses, the core information is accurately reported and fulfills the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0, so a score of 6.5 is awarded.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response has a clear overall progression, starting with an introductory overview and following the chronological sequence of the diagram. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the body of the process, and the final steps. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'It starts when', 'Afterwards', and 'The water then' are employed to guide the reader through the process, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical ('Afterwards, the steam goes through... The steam then goes through...'). Referencing is generally clear, though minor repetition of phrase structures slightly impacts the natural flow of the text. Overall, the organizational structure is coherent, meeting the criteria for a Band 6.5.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'geothermal energy', 'condenser', 'turbine', 'generator', and 'injection well'. However, there are notable lexical errors and spelling/word-choice slips, most prominently writing 'injection wall' instead of 'injection well' multiple times. Other phrases like 'turning the cold water hot' are somewhat basic and lack academic precision. While the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main steps of the diagram, these persistent lexical inaccuracies and lack of more sophisticated paraphrasing restrict the score to a Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including relative clauses ('a turbine that is powered by steam') and passive voice constructions ('cold water is pumped down'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward punctuation slips, such as the comma splice in 'After that, the water, now hot is pumped' and missing articles or prepositions. Additionally, the confusion in the final sentence ('The steam then goes through a generator, that is powered by turbines') creates a slight grammatical and logical awkwardness. These errors do not impede overall communication, placing the response solidly at Band 6.0.
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.