Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The diagram outlines the 5-step process of how electricity is created using geothermal energy.

The diagrams shows that there are two major phases of the process, one beneath the ground and one above the ground. Chilled water is sent beneath the ground to be heated by the geothermal zone. This water is pumped back up to eventually power the generator and produce electricity.

In the first step, cold water is sent 4.5 kilometres down into the ground. The injection well pushes the water into the hot rocks where the geothermal energy boils the water. The water continues to travel towards the production well which propels it back up to the surface into the condensor.

In the penultimate step, condensation causes the hot water to transform into steam. This steam is used to activate the turbines. Once turbines are in motion they power the generator which in turn creates electricity and passes it on to the electric grid.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response identifies the main stages and gives a useful overview of the underground heating phase followed by electricity generation above ground. It also includes the key depth of 4.5 kilometres and correctly describes water moving through the injection and production wells before steam drives the turbine and generator. However, some details are not fully accurate: the geothermal zone heats the water, but the diagram does not state that it boils there; steam is produced at the condenser, so saying “condensation causes” water to become steam reverses the process. The overview also calls the process two phases without clearly distinguishing the five numbered stages. More precise reporting of the condenser’s role and a clearer account of the complete sequence would strengthen coverage and development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear sequence: an introduction, an overview, and then descriptions of the underground and surface stages. Phrases such as “In the first step” and “In the penultimate step” help guide the reader through the process, and the final sentence completes the account. The progression is generally easy to follow, although the stage labels are not entirely consistent: the opening refers to five steps, while the overview divides the process into two phases, and the final paragraph does not explicitly identify the last stage. Some links between steps are compressed, particularly the transition from heated water to the condenser. Use consistent stage references and clearer transitions to make the sequence more cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

There is a good range of process vocabulary, including “geothermal zone,” “injection well,” “production well,” “condensor,” and “activate,” which allows the writer to describe the diagram with some precision. The use of “chilled” and “propels” also shows an attempt to vary wording. A few choices are inaccurate or less natural for this context: “condensation causes” misrepresents the change into steam, “activate the turbines” is less precise than describing steam as driving them, and “electric grid” is not shown as the destination in the diagram. “Condensor” is also misspelled; the standard spelling is “condenser.” More exact process collocations would improve precision while retaining the existing range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex structures, and many sentences are controlled effectively. For example, “This water is pumped back up to eventually power the generator and produce electricity” uses a clear passive construction, while “Once turbines are in motion they power the generator which in turn creates electricity” shows an attempt to link clauses. There are a few errors that do not prevent understanding. “The diagrams shows” has a subject–verb agreement error; “The diagram shows” is correct. In the final sentence, commas would clarify the clauses: “Once the turbines are in motion, they power the generator, which in turn produces electricity.” Continue using varied structures, while checking agreement, articles, and punctuation in longer sentences.

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