Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-28
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 diagrami illlustrates the production of electricity from geothermal energy.
Overall, the process consist of five main stages, beginning with cold water at prise teperature and ending with generator powered by turbine. The main feature is that turbinne and generator merged to purduce powered the electric poll.
Initially, cold water was stored and it was pumped down from 4.5 kilometer downstream at ajacent temperature. Afterthat cold water reaches the injection well and moves throw three layers of geometermal zone hot rocks for warmer. subsquently water reaches production well, the cold water transformed into hot water and it pushed upward in a 4.5 kilometer well.
At the next stage, it pushed toward codenser,then there is nomositure left and water is formed into dense steam. Following thhis it move to turbine and spining around powered by steam, then turbine gave power to generator to produce electricity, this elcectricity was given to elcetic poll.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student attempts to summarise the main features of the geothermal energy diagram, identifying the five main stages and the depth of 4.5 kilometres. However, there are several inaccuracies in the reporting of the process steps. For instance, the text states that cold water is pumped down from '4.5 kilometer downstream' and that the water passes through three layers of geothermal zone hot rocks, which misreads the diagram's depiction of a single injection well reaching 4.5 km into a geothermal zone. Additionally, the description of the condenser stage ('nomositure left and water is formed into dense steam') misinterprets the transformation of water and steam in the system. While an overall overview is attempted, the flaws in detail comprehension limit the score to a Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is organised into introduction, overall summary, and body paragraphs, providing a basic structural framework. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Afterthat', 'Subsquently', and 'At the next stage' are employed to guide the reader through the sequence of the process. However, paragraphing is somewhat disjointed, and referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'it pushed toward codenser'). Logical progression is hindered by confusing transitions and mechanical links. Furthermore, spelling errors in linking words detract slightly from the flow. Overall, the organisation is coherent enough to be followed, aligning with the Band 6 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, attempting process-related terminology such as 'geothermal energy', 'injection well', 'production well', 'condenser', 'turbine', and 'generator'. However, there are numerous spelling errors ('illlustrates', 'consist', 'turbinne', 'purduce', 'ajacent', 'throw', 'geometermal', 'subsquently', 'codenser', 'nomositure', 'spining', 'elcectricity', 'poll') and word-choice inaccuracies ('prise teperature', 'for warmer'). These frequent lexical errors and misspellings cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the score from reaching Band 6.0, settling firmly at Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The main feature is that turbinne and generator merged to purduce powered the electric poll.' However, grammatical accuracy is weak throughout the response, featuring frequent errors in tense consistency ('cold water was stored and it was pumped'), preposition usage ('from 4.5 kilometer downstream'), and voice/structure ('water is formed into dense steam', 'turbine gave power to generator'). Punctuation and sentence boundaries also show lapses. Because these errors are frequent and occasionally cause confusion, the writing fits the Band 5.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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