Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-09

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 6.0)

The give process chart illustrates how the electricity is generated by geothermal energy.

Overall, it is crystal clear that it contains almost 5 steps to make electricity which is starting from pumped down cold water and ending at turbine and genrator.

At a fleeting glance, initially the cold water is pumped down 4.5 km under the surface through the injection wall. After that it has to gone through geothermal zone where the water is heated by hot rocks.

Moving further, before making steam into condenser, the hot water is pumped up by the production well then the steam is sent to turbine. In the last step, steam is powered by turbine and via generator it produce electricity which is delivered to grid for using.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main process from cold water being pumped underground to electricity generation, and you include relevant details such as the 4.5 km depth, the hot-rock zone, and the two wells. However, the overview is not fully accurate: the process does not end “at turbine and genrator”; the generator is the final stage, after steam drives the turbine. The description also leaves out the condenser’s role in producing steam and gives little detail about how the generator produces electricity. The response is below the required 150 words, which limits how fully you can report the stages. To strengthen the summary, give a precise overview and explain each stage in sequence, especially the conversion from hot water to steam and then to electricity.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the process in sequence. Linking phrases such as “Overall,” “After that,” and “Moving further” help the reader follow the stages, and the progression from underground heating to surface equipment is generally logical. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and shows some flexibility in sequencing. However, “At a fleeting glance” is an awkward transition, and “before making steam into condenser” makes the order and relationship between the hot water and condenser unclear. The overview also conflicts with the final-stage description. Use straightforward sequencing language and ensure each sentence clearly connects one stage to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “geothermal zone,” “hot rocks,” and “pumped down,” so the topic is generally clear. There is also some attempt to vary expression with phrases such as “Moving further.” However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural: “process chart” is less suitable for a diagram, “injection wall” misnames the well, and “make steam into condenser” does not express the process clearly. “Fleeting glance” is also an unsuitable phrase for describing a diagram. These noticeable errors reduce precision. Build a reliable set of process terms and use natural collocations such as “the water passes through” and “steam is channelled to the turbine.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “where the water is heated by hot rocks” and sequencing clauses beginning “After that” and “before.” The main stages remain understandable, but errors occur in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction. For example, “it has to gone through” should use the base form after “has to,” while “it produce electricity” needs subject–verb agreement. The sentence beginning “before making steam into condenser” is also structurally unclear, and the overview’s “which is starting” does not form a natural grammatical description of the process. Aim for accurate passive constructions, such as “the water is pumped up” and “steam is sent to the turbine,” and check each clause for a clear subject and verb.

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