Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-02

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 illustrates the process of electricity production by using geothermal energy.

Overall, the process is comprises of five stages with pumping down of cold water at the first to production of electricity in last stage.

At the first stage, cold water pumped down the ground, after traveling for 4.5 km it reaches the injection well. After this the cold water reaches the production well by passing through the hot rocks or geothermal zone.

The production well pumps hot water to condenser on the ground where this hot water turns into steam.Finally at the last stage, steam powers a turbine which in turn power Generator and generator produces electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the main task by outlining the stages of the geothermal energy production process, and a basic overview is provided. However, the length requirement is not met, as the response contains only 110 words against the minimum of 150. Furthermore, some parts of the process are under-developed or inaccurately described. For example, the student writes that after traveling 4.5 km the water reaches the injection well, whereas the diagram shows the injection well itself extending 4.5 km underground to the geothermal zone. Key details such as the generator and condenser are only mentioned very briefly, resulting in a partial coverage of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

There is a coherent overall arrangement to the response, with a clear introduction that includes an overview statement, followed by body paragraphs describing the sequential steps of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'At the first stage', 'After this', and 'Finally at the last stage' are used to signal progression. However, referencing and transitions are sometimes mechanical, and the paragraphing is slightly uneven, with a very short second paragraph. While the flow of information is generally logical, the lack of more sophisticated cohesive relationships prevents the text from achieving a higher band.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, with domain-specific terms such as 'geothermal energy', 'injection well', 'production well', 'condenser', and 'turbine' employed correctly. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as stating that the process 'is comprises of' rather than 'comprises'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and attempts at less common items are few. Spelling is generally accurate, but the overall lexical control reflects a restricted repertoire that occasionally causes minor hesitation for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the range remains limited and prone to errors. There are frequent mistakes with verb forms, voice, and prepositions, such as 'cold water pumped down the ground' (missing auxiliary/verb 'is pumped down into') and 'power Generator' (missing article). Complex constructions are sometimes faulty, and prepositional patterns inside phrases lack precision. Although these errors do not completely obscure the overall meaning, they persist throughout the text and restrict the grammatical grade to this level.

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.