Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-13

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 6.5)

The given diagram illustrates how electricity is being produced by using geothermal energy.

Overall, the power plant uses condensed water to run turbines and produce electricity.

To begin with, the cold water is stored in a container where it then pumped down to 4.5km by the injection well. The geothermal zone contains hot rocks where water gets boiled enough to get hot. Similarly, like the injection well, there is a production well which is used to pump the hot water up. Furthermore, hot water is brought up into a condenser where it then converts to steam.

The steam is used to run steam powered turbines. The turbines are moved by the steam in clockwise direction which produces electricity. The electricity is then stored in a generator to transmit it for the public use. In addition to this, electricity is supplied to the towers and transformers by the generators for further use. This is how it gets generated by a geothermal power plant.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main process from cold-water injection through heating and steam production to electricity generation, and the overview gives the reader the plant’s general purpose. The sequence is mostly accurate, including the 4.5 km depth and the roles of the injection and production wells. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: water is heated by passing through the hot-rock zone, rather than being “boiled enough” there, and the generator produces electricity rather than storing it. The claims that electricity is stored in the generator and supplied to “towers and transformers” are not supported by the diagram, which shows transmission lines leading to a pylon. This covers the task, but the overview and final stages need more precise reporting to make the account fully clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall sequence, moving from the cold-water supply to underground heating and then to electricity generation. Paragraphing also separates the initial stages from the later ones, and signposts such as “To begin with” and “Furthermore” help guide the reader. However, some linking is mechanical or imprecise: “Similarly, like the injection well” does not clearly explain the relationship between the two wells, while “In addition to this” introduces unsupported information rather than advancing the process. The final sentence repeats the general point instead of adding a useful stage. To strengthen progression, group the underground and surface stages clearly and use references such as “this heated water” or “the resulting steam” to connect steps without unnecessary transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “condenser,” “turbines” and “geothermal zone.” These terms help communicate the main stages, and the meaning is generally understandable. Some choices are imprecise or awkward for describing the diagram: “container” is less specific than “tank,” “water gets boiled enough to get hot” is unclear, and “the turbines are moved by the steam” is less natural than describing steam as driving or powering them. “Stored in a generator” also misrepresents the generator’s function. Aim for precise process verbs and standard technical collocations, while avoiding repetition of “used to” and “produce.” This would make the description more fluent and accurate without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including relative clauses (“where it then pumped down”) and a sequence of clauses linked with “where” and “which.” Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical errors reduce accuracy. For example, “where it then pumped down” needs a passive verb (“where it is then pumped down”), and “which produces electricity” has an unclear reference because it follows “turbines” rather than the generator. The phrase “in clockwise direction” also needs an article (“in a clockwise direction”). Use passive forms consistently for stages performed by equipment, and check that pronouns and relative clauses clearly refer to the intended component. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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