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 provided diagram illustrates the process how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.
Overall, the entire process consists of five distinct stages, beginning with cold water is pumped down. Final stage, steam is went in the turbine and generator and make electricity that is callled geothermal power plant.
To begin with, cold water, which is stored in the tank and it is filled half. The next stage about the injection water, cold water is pumped down through pipe it is around 4.5km. After this stage, cold water is went to geothermal zone with hot rocks, which is helped to make hot water. The production well, hot water pumped up into condenser.
Turning to the next details, in condenser make steam. Subsequently, it is went into turbine. Meanwhile, turbine produces electricity through the generator. The last stage is geothermal power plant and it is provided electricity in the entire area.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main features of the geothermal energy production process, from pumping cold water underground to generating electricity. An overview is attempted at the beginning of the second paragraph, stating that the process consists of five stages. However, some aspects of the process are under-developed or described with slight inaccuracies, such as claiming the storage tank is filled half or misinterpreting the condenser stage. While the key steps are identified, the lack of full extension and clearer detail on certain parts of the diagram places this aspect of the writing within the mid-level criteria, covering the prompt adequately but lacking precision and full development of all reported features.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response exhibits an overall coherent arrangement with a clear attempt to structure the writing into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction and overview into sequential body paragraphs. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the stages, utilizing transition markers such as 'To begin with', 'The next stage', 'After this stage', and 'Turning to the next details'. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical and referencing is occasionally faulty, as seen in abrupt transitions like 'Final stage, steam is went in...' and repetitive structural patterns. Paragraphing is present and helps separate the overview from the body details, but logical progression between sentences within paragraphs occasionally breaks down due to awkward phrasing and limited connective tools.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less-common terms related to the diagram such as 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', 'production well', 'condenser', and 'generator'. However, there are notable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word formation throughout the text. Examples include 'injection water' instead of injection well, 'steam is went' involving verb form errors, and 'callled' with a spelling error. While these lexical errors and awkward collocations are noticeable and occasionally affect precision, the vocabulary remains minimally adequate to convey the basic stages of the process without completely impeding communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex structures frequently contain errors. There are frequent mistakes with verb tenses, voice, and prepositions inside grammatical patterns, such as 'cold water is pumped down', 'cold water is went', 'in condenser make steam', and missing articles or incorrect auxiliary usage. Punctuation is basic and sometimes missing. Despite these numerous errors in grammar and structure, the meaning remains mostly discernible, meaning communication is rarely completely blocked, reflecting a profile with frequent non-impeding grammatical slips.
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.