Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given diagram illustrates, geothermal power plant and the steps involved. The procedure is divided into 5 steps to produce electricity through cold water. This plant uses cold water and make it hot so that it can be converted into steam in condenser and that steam can be used in turbine to turn on generator to produce electricity.

In the first step cold water is pumped 4km beneath the ground, where in the second step, there is an injection well present which force cold water to undergoe geothermal zone, where water has to be passed through hot rocks which increases the temperature.

In the third step, the production well pumps hot water up to the condenser. In forth step water is converted into steam which is further shifted to the turbine. In the fifth step, steam turns the turbine on and the generator produces electricity which is supplied to electricity tower.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main purpose and describe the key sequence: cold water is sent underground, heated by hot rocks, brought back up, converted to steam, and used to drive a turbine and generator. This gives the reader a relevant account of the process. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the diagram labels the depth as 4.5 km, not 4 km, and the injection well is the route down rather than a separate step that forces water through the geothermal zone. The overview also focuses on the sequence but does not clearly summarise the overall transformation from underground heat to electricity. Clarify the stages and include the correct depth to make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable order, moving from the initial water supply through heating and pumping to electricity generation. The use of “In the first step,” “In the third step,” and “In fifth step” helps signal progression, and the opening paragraph gives a broad introduction. However, the numbered sequence is not fully consistent: the first paragraph describes several stages, while the next paragraph calls the injection well the second step, which makes the process harder to follow. Some links are also mechanical, and “where” is used repeatedly to connect ideas. Organise the stages in one clear sequence and use a wider range of simple links such as “after this” and “as a result.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “geothermal zone,” “condenser,” “turbine,” and “generator,” so the reader can recognise the main components. However, the range of verbs and phrases is limited, and several choices are imprecise or unnatural. For example, “turn on generator” does not clearly describe the turbine driving the generator, while “electricity tower” is not the appropriate term for the transmission pylon. “Undergoe geothermal zone” is also an unclear expression, and “shifted to the turbine” is less suitable than a verb describing steam movement. Choose precise process verbs and check spelling and collocations to improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “where water has to be passed through hot rocks,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur in several sentence patterns. The opening comma in “The given diagram illustrates, geothermal power plant” is incorrect, and “This plant uses cold water and make it hot” has a subject–verb agreement error. In “an injection well present which force cold water,” the clause has faulty agreement and structure. Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or awkward, as in “In forth step” and “supplied to electricity tower.” Build accuracy in basic clauses before adding longer linked sentences.

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