Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 how geothermal power plant works . In today's life electricity has became a necessity . Electricity can be generated in many ways and here geothermal energy is discussed .

To generate geothermal energy the process is complicated . Firstly , cold water is pumped down and then water goes whrough geothermal zone (hot rocks) . Water is sent to the production well where hot water is pumped up . Due to hot water , steam is produced which goes to terbine . Terbine is powered by steam and in this terbine the steam is flowing . When terbine is working due to steam it generates energy and passes it to generator . Generator is powered by turbine and produces electricity . The final stage is the energy generated is sent to the electric poll .

To conclude , geothermal energy is complicated but it is renewable . This generates electricity by using water and less manual labour is required.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main sequence: cold water is pumped underground, heated in the geothermal zone, brought back up, and used to produce electricity. This gives the reader a basic account of the process. However, the description is only partial: it omits the injection well’s 4.5 km depth and does not clearly explain that the hot water enters a condenser, where steam is produced before reaching the turbine. The overview is also weak. Calling the process “complicated” and “renewable” does not summarise its key stages, and the claim that it requires “less manual labour” is not shown in the diagram. Focus on the diagram’s main transformations and equipment, and avoid adding unsupported conclusions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to a description of the stages and then a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “then,” and “The final stage” help the reader follow the general direction of the process. However, the progression becomes repetitive and occasionally unclear: the turbine is described several times, and “in this turbine the steam is flowing” adds little to the sequence. The opening and concluding comments about electricity and renewable energy also interrupt the process description rather than helping organise it. Group the stages into a clear beginning, middle, and end, and use references such as “this steam” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “geothermal zone,” “production well,” “steam,” “turbine,” and “generator,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “whrough,” “terbine,” and “electric poll” make key parts of the process less clear. Some phrases are also unnatural, such as “the energy generated is sent to the electric poll” and “in this turbine the steam is flowing.” Use accurate technical terms consistently and choose concise process verbs, for example, “flows,” “drives,” and “transmits.” This would make the description clearer and more appropriate to an academic process report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the sequence is often understandable. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. For example, “Electricity has became a necessity” uses an incorrect verb form; “how geothermal power plant works” is missing an article; and “Due to hot water, steam is produced which goes to terbine” has an unclear clause structure. Punctuation spacing is also inconsistent, with spaces before several commas and full stops. Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes, including passive forms such as “water is pumped” and “steam is produced,” and check articles, verb forms, and sentence boundaries.

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