Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-01
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 figure illustrates the production of electricity. The generation process consists of five different stages. Beginning with the raw materials and ending with the transmission of electricty to towers.
Overall, what stands out from the diagram is that the process starts with water and finishes at the turbine generator.
In the first step the low-temperature water is put inside the injection well, which is about 4.5 km deep. The water is then flowing to the hot rocks (Geothermal zone), till it reaches the production well. After then hot water pumps towards up, so it arrives in condenser.
In the last stage, the stream passes through the container and then it sends to the generator, which produces the electricity. Finally transmission process starts and tower gets electricity from turbine generator.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response only partially addresses the task requirements. It is significantly under the minimum length requirement, containing only 129 words instead of the required 150 words. While it attempts to outline the process of generating electricity using geothermal energy, the coverage is limited and mechanical. Key stages of the diagram are missed or only partially explained, such as the exact pathway through the condenser and the specific interaction between the turbine and generator. The overview is overly simplistic, stating only that the process 'starts with water and finishes at the turbine generator.' To improve, the student needs to develop all parts of the visual information more fully and ensure the word count exceeds the 150-word minimum.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response demonstrates some organisation with basic paragraphing and general division into stages, but there is no clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are repetitive or basic, relying heavily on simple sequence markers like 'In the first step', 'After then', and 'In the last stage'. Referencing is sometimes unclear, for instance in phrases like 'the stream passes through the container and then it sends to the generator', where pronouns and connectors fail to link ideas smoothly. Paragraphing is attempted, but sentences within paragraphs feel disjointed rather than logically flowing from one to the next. To reach a higher band, the writer must use a wider range of cohesive devices more accurately and ensure a smoother logical progression between sentences and ideas.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The lexical resource is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with words like 'water', 'process', and 'generator' recurring frequently. There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'low-temperature water' instead of cold water, 'hot water pumps towards up' instead of pumped upward, and 'stream' instead of steam. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they cause some difficulty for the reader and reveal a lack of control over precise scientific or technical collocations relevant to process diagrams. To improve, the student should expand their range of vocabulary and learn precise terms and collocations related to mechanical and natural processes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent attempts at complex forms that are often faulty. There are noticeable errors in grammar, prepositions, and voice, such as 'electricty' (spelling), 'the water is then flowing' (inappropriate tense choice), 'After then hot water pumps towards up' (awkward structure and incorrect prepositional use), and 'it sends to the generator' (passive voice error). These frequent errors cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, the writer needs to practice complex sentence structures, ensure accurate verb forms (especially active and passive voice in processes), and pay closer attention to prepositions and word forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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