Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The schemetic diagram illustrates step by step process how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.

Overall, its start with a cold water which travel through the specialized (U) shape tunnel under the earth and gose through the many steps, on the other end of tunnel we get hot water and then it comes out of tunnel and gose through the electrical machine and geothermal energy convert to electrical energy.

In the start cold water gose through the tunnel downward about 4.5 kilometers into teh earth,in next step the injection well is the part where cold water pushed to to Geothemal zone(hot rocks)

by which water temprature rise and on the other end which is production well.

Prodcustion well is the step where we have hot water and have opening outside to the condensor chamber where water from prodcution well pumped up and condense water in to steam. In the next step steam went through the turbine which is powerd by steam.In the last the generator powerd by turbine and produce electrcity.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages of the process, from cold water being sent underground to electricity being produced, and include the important depth of 4.5 kilometres. The overview also recognises the change from cold water to hot water and then steam. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the water passes through the geothermal zone and is heated by the hot rocks, rather than the injection well itself being the zone; and the condenser is described as condensing water into steam, when it is the stage where hot water is converted to steam. The overview’s reference to an “electrical machine” is also imprecise. To strengthen the response, explain the sequence and the roles of the condenser, turbine and generator more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, an overview and descriptions of the earlier and later stages. Sequencing phrases such as “In the start,” “In the next step” and “In the last” help the reader follow the process. However, progression is sometimes mechanical, and several ideas are crowded into long sentences, particularly the overview and the paragraph describing the wells. References such as “on the other end of tunnel” are not always clear, and the paragraph break between the two process sections does not fully resolve this. Use shorter, clearly focused sentences and link each stage to the next with precise references, such as “the heated water then rises through the production well.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “geothermal zone,” “turbine” and “generator,” which helps identify the main components. However, the range and control are limited by repeated general words such as “step” and “gose through,” as well as imprecise or unnatural combinations such as “electrical machine” and “condense water in to steam.” Spelling errors—including “schemetic,” “temprature” and “electrcity”—also make the description less clear. Aim to use accurate process verbs and standard technical terms consistently. For example, describe water as being “heated” by the rocks, then “converted into steam,” rather than relying on repeated “goes through” phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the sequence is generally understandable. However, errors in sentence structure and verb forms occur in several places. For example, “Overall, its start with a cold water” lacks a correct subject–verb construction, while “cold water which travel” needs agreement and a clearer clause structure. In “the generator powerd by turbine and produce electrcity,” the verb forms and sentence construction are incomplete. Articles and prepositions are also sometimes missing or awkward, as in “into teh earth” and “in to steam.” To improve, build each stage around a clear subject and verb, check agreement and tense, and use full stops to separate ideas when a sentence becomes difficult to control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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