Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-15

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 illustrates different steps involved in production of electricity by the means of geothermal energy.

These steps describe the entire process of producing electricity using cold water and then turning it into hot water and then going through multiple steps to generate electricity in a geothermal power plant.

The first step in the process is to pump the cold water down into the ground by about 4.5 kilometers that goes into an injection well. Next step is carried out by the injection well which pushes the cold water in a geothermal zone of hot rocks and the temperature is converted from cold to hot. In the third step, a production well pumps this hot water up into a condenser placed on the ground.

The fourth step is carried out by the condenser which converts the hot water into a steam that is used to power a turbine. In the fifth and the final step, turbine enables the generator to produce electricity in the plant.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response identifies the main sequence accurately: cold water is pumped down the injection well, heated by the hot rocks, brought back up through the production well, and used to generate electricity. It also includes the key depth of 4.5 kilometres and gives a brief overview of the process. However, some features are less fully reported: the account does not clearly explain that steam powers the turbine and that the turbine drives the generator, and it omits the electricity transmission shown in the diagram. The statement that the condenser converts hot water into steam is broadly consistent with the diagram, but the stages could be described more precisely. A fuller overview and clearer coverage of the final energy-transfer steps would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information is arranged in a generally logical order, moving from the initial pumping stage through heating and back to the surface, then to electricity generation. Sequencing expressions such as “The first step,” “Next,” and “In the third step” help the reader follow the process. However, the repeated step-by-step framing becomes somewhat mechanical, and the second sentence largely restates the introduction rather than adding a distinct overview. Some links between stages could also be clearer: for example, the transition from steam to the turbine and then to the generator is compressed into the final two sentences. Organising the response into a concise overview followed by a more connected process description would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “geothermal zone,” “production well,” “condenser,” and “turbine,” which makes the main stages understandable. It also attempts more formal phrasing, such as “illustrates” and “generate electricity.” Some word choices and collocations are less natural or imprecise: “by the means of geothermal energy” is awkward, “the temperature is converted from cold to hot” does not accurately describe the change, and “converts the hot water into a steam” uses an unnecessary article. Repetition of “step” and “process” also limits flexibility. More precise verbs such as “heats,” “rises,” and “drives” would help describe the transformations and machinery more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

There is a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, and the sequence is generally understandable. For example, the writer uses a relative clause in “a production well pumps this hot water up into a condenser placed on the ground” and links ideas with “which.” Some grammatical errors remain, including the article in “into a steam,” the awkward construction “The first step … is to pump … that goes into an injection well,” and the sentence fragment-like phrasing “Next step is carried out by the injection well.” The long second sentence also repeats several actions without a clear grammatical structure. Use complete, direct clauses and check articles and sentence boundaries; this would make the process description more controlled while retaining varied structures.

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