Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-19

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 figure describes the process of generating electricity in geothermal power plant with the help of water.

Overall, the whole procedure is to pass water with low temperature from hot rocks and then uses that hot water to generate steam and this provides energy to turbines in order to produce electricity at large scale.

There are Geothermal power planst designed in which whole process is being performed. Firstly, Cold water is passing down to the injection well which is 4.5km in depth where this water hit with hot rocks and in result the temperature of water raises and after that water moves towards the production well where hot water pumped up to the condenser to generate steam and turbines are being powered by steam in turbine and then this energy goes to generator which is powered by turbine and produces electricity and then this power pass to tower to store electricity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main stages of the process, including water entering the injection well, being heated by hot rocks, rising through the production well, and ultimately powering a turbine and generator. The overview also recognises the transformation from cold water to steam and electricity. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the water does not pass “from hot rocks” at the outset, and the final power is not described as being stored in a tower; the diagram shows transmission lines leading to a pylon. The role of the condenser is also imprecisely expressed as generating steam. To make the account more complete and precise, explain that the water is heated underground, then converted to steam at the surface before driving the turbine.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the process in broadly the correct order, and the opening overview helps orient the reader. However, the main description is compressed into one very long sentence, with several stages joined by repeated “and then” or “where.” This makes the sequence harder to follow and weakens the progression between steps. Paragraphing is also limited: the overview and detailed stages could be separated, with the stages grouped into underground heating and surface electricity generation. Use clearer links such as “Next,” “Once heated,” and “Finally,” while ensuring each sentence presents one or two connected stages. This would make the organisation more controlled and the relationships between steps clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “condenser,” “turbine,” and “generator,” which allows the reader to recognise the main components. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or awkward, such as “hit with hot rocks,” “generate steam and turbines,” and “this power pass to tower to store electricity.” “Geothermal power planst” also contains a spelling error, and “at large scale” is not needed to describe the diagram. Aim for precise process verbs and natural technical phrasing, for example, water is heated by hot rocks, steam drives the turbine, and electricity is transmitted through power lines. This would improve clarity and control of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to combine stages using subordinate clauses and sequencing, as in “where this water hit with hot rocks,” but the long sentence structures are often difficult to control. There are errors in verb forms and agreement: “water is passing” and “water hit” do not fit the intended description, while “turbines are being powered” shifts awkwardly between singular and plural. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “in geothermal power plant” and the extended final sentence. These errors sometimes make relationships between actions unclear. Use a mixture of shorter, accurate sentences and a few controlled complex structures, and check subject–verb agreement and tense consistency when describing each stage.

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