Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The diagram below illustrates how electricity is generated using geothermal energy. This process undergoes several number of steps from which electricity can be produced.

Overall, the process involves around 6 phases. To complete the overall process, there is a need of some specific things. It requires stored water, production and injection well, pumping equipments, a Condenser, Turbine and a Generator.

Looking into the details, the initial phase starts from injecting stored cold water to an underground well, which then passed through a geothermal zone also known as hot rocks to make the water warm. This warm water is then pumped and supplied to a condenser located at the surface of the ground to produce steam. Condenser helps that steam to push into the Turbine. Turbine is derived with a system used to mechanically evolve consistent incoming steam or gas, the generated power is then passed to the Generator which finally produces electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages and give a basic overview, noting that cold water is heated underground and that steam ultimately drives equipment to generate electricity. However, the account is incomplete and some details are unclear: it does not state that the water is pumped down the injection well and then returned to the surface through a separate production well, or mention the indicated depth of 4.5 km. The final generator stage is also described imprecisely: the generator produces electricity, rather than merely receiving “generated power.” The overview lists components but does not clearly summarise the process’s key transformation from cold water to steam and then electricity. A more precise, complete sequence would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a sensible order, moving from an introduction and overview to a description of the stages, and expressions such as “Overall” and “Looking into the details” help signal this progression. The main process can generally be followed. However, the overview’s list of equipment does not connect clearly to the later explanation, and some links between stages are awkward: “Condenser helps that steam to push into the Turbine” makes the relationship difficult to follow. The final sentence also combines the turbine and generator stages without a clear transition. To improve, use a more direct sequence of linking phrases—first, next, after this, and finally—and give each stage a clear connection to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “geothermal zone,” “pumped,” “condenser,” “turbine,” and “generator,” so the subject is recognisable. There are also attempts at more technical language, but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing this diagram. For example, “Turbine is derived with a system” does not clearly explain its function, while “mechanically evolve consistent incoming steam or gas” is unnecessarily complicated and not supported by the visual. “Pumping equipments” is also an unsuitable form. Prefer precise, conventional process language, such as saying that steam drives the turbine and the turbine powers the generator. This would make the description clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which then passed through a geothermal zone” and a sequence joined with “which finally produces electricity.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but several grammatical errors remain. In “This process undergoes several number of steps,” the noun phrase is incorrectly formed; “several steps” would be grammatical. “Which then passed” needs a consistent passive verb form, such as “which is then passed,” and “there is a need of” is not a well-formed construction. The long final sentence also has unclear clause relationships and tense choices. Aim for shorter, controlled sentences and check articles, verb forms, and agreement when describing each stage.

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.