Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-17

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 diagram illustrates a geothermal power plant to explain a linear process depiciting how natural resources like heat and water aid the production of power.

Overall, the process comprises of 5 key stages where water and heat play an essential part. Water is injected through the underground injection well in the geothermal zone under the first two initial stages. Then it passes on through the production well all the way to the condenser. Next, the steam blown of by the condenser is used to pass through the generator which is then used to produce electricity at the final stage.

Observing the first stages of procedure, it can be seen that cold water is pumped down through a 4.5km deep injection well, which then takes the water through the geothermal zone located underground where hot rocks are placed to increase the temperature of the water. The hot water is subsequently pumped up through the production well on the opposite end of injection well and reaches a condenser right at the top.

During the final stages, the condenser enables the hot water to modify into steam which then assists the turbine to rotate using its force. The generator that produces electricity at the very last stage is powered by the turbine right next to it. The process concludes when the power reaches to the tower supplied by the generator.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from pumping cold water underground to generating electricity, and the overview identifies the injection and production wells, condenser and final output. The 4.5 km depth and the geothermal zone’s hot rocks are also reported accurately. This gives the account a clear, relevant foundation. Some details, however, are less fully or precisely described: the diagram shows steam powering the turbine, which in turn powers the generator, whereas the overview says steam passes through the generator. The final reference to power reaching “the tower” is also imprecise; the diagram shows electricity transmitted via power lines to a pylon. Clarifying these relationships and distinguishing the five numbered stages from the overall process would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and two chronological detail paragraphs. Sequencing phrases such as “Overall,” “Observing the first stages,” and “During the final stages” help the reader follow the process, and the progression from underground heating to electricity is generally clear. The overview does repeat some details that are then explained in the body, and “the first two initial stages” is redundant. A few references also make the sequence less clear, particularly “the steam … is used to pass through the generator,” which obscures the turbine’s role. Use the overview to summarise the main transformation, then reserve the numbered stages for the detail paragraphs, with explicit links between steam, turbine and generator.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “geothermal zone,” “pumped down,” “pumped up,” and “condenser.” Terms such as “subsequently” and “comprises” also show an attempt at more formal description. Some choices are inaccurate or awkward for this diagram: “steam blown of” is not a natural description of the condenser’s output, “modify into steam” is an unsuitable collocation, and “power reaches to the tower” is unclear. There is also a spelling error in “depiciting.” Choose precise process verbs and standard collocations, such as “is converted into steam” and “is transmitted via power lines.” This would improve accuracy while retaining the useful range already present.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including relative clauses (“which then takes the water…”) and time clauses (“when the power reaches…”). Most sentences communicate the intended sequence, but some grammatical errors remain. “The process comprises of 5 key stages” uses an incorrect pattern; write “comprises five key stages” or “consists of five key stages.” In “the production well on the opposite end of injection well,” the article and preposition pattern need correction (“at the opposite end from the injection well”). The phrase “the generator … is powered by the turbine right next to it” is grammatically sound, but the surrounding sentence structure could state the sequence more directly. Check articles, prepositions and sentence clarity when describing each stage.

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