Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-16

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 7.0)

The illustration depicts how thermal energy from the earth is used to heat water, which then enables us to produce electricity in a geothermal power plant.

Overall, geothermal energy is used to produce steam from cold water, which then powers the turbine connected to the generator, enabling the generator to produce electricity.

First the cold water is pumped 4.5km underground through the injection well. The cold water reaches the geothermal zone which contians hot rocks. These hot rocks heat up the cold water and the heater water is then pumped out through the production well.

When the hot water reaches the surface, it is then condensed in the condenser to produce steam. The steam is then directed towards the turbine so that the power of steam can rotate the turbine. The spining turbine powers the generator which enables it to generate electricity. Finally, the wires carry the produced electricity out of the power plant.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the main transformation: cold water is heated underground, becomes steam, and drives equipment that generates electricity. It also reports the 4.5 km depth and correctly identifies the injection and production wells, geothermal zone, condenser, turbine and generator. This covers the key stages and their sequence. Some technical detail is imprecise, however: the condenser is described as producing steam, whereas the diagram shows hot water reaching it and steam then moving onward; the turbine is powered by that steam. The final reference to wires carrying electricity is relevant, but the account could describe the diagram’s connections more precisely. Overall, the process is clearly summarised, with a few details needing tighter alignment to the visual.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear progression, moving from the overview to the underground stages and then to steam, the turbine and electricity transmission. Sequencing expressions such as “First,” “When,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process, and the overview is appropriately separated from the detailed account. The repeated use of “then” makes some links feel mechanical, and several sentences begin with the same subject pattern (“The steam…”, “The spinning turbine…”). More varied transitions and clearer grouping of the underground and surface stages would make the progression smoother. Nevertheless, the organisation is logical throughout and the relationships between most stages are easy to understand.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “geothermal zone,” “production well,” “condenser,” and “generator.” Phrases such as “pumped 4.5km underground” and “directed towards the turbine” communicate the process effectively. Some word choices and collocations are imprecise: “thermal energy from the earth” is less exact than geothermal heat, and “the power of steam” is less natural than the force or pressure of steam. There are also spelling errors in “contians,” “heater,” and “spining,” which reduce accuracy. More precise technical phrasing and careful proofreading would strengthen the vocabulary while preserving the clear meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response includes both straightforward statements and more complex structures, for example, “which then enables us to produce electricity” and “When the hot water reaches the surface, it is then condensed…”. Most sentences communicate the sequence clearly, and passive forms such as “is pumped” and “is directed” suit a process description. Some grammatical choices are less controlled: “the heater water is then pumped out” has an incorrect form, and “the turbine connected to the generator, enabling the generator to produce electricity” is an awkwardly constructed clause. The repeated “then” also contributes to less fluent sentence patterns. Greater control of clause construction and more varied sentence forms would improve accuracy and flexibility.

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