Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-21

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 diagram illustrates the step-by-step process of electricity generation in a geothermal power plant. overall, the process consist of five main stages beginning with the underground water heating and finishing with distribution of the electricity to the power stations.

First of all the cold water is pumped deep in the geothermal zone where a special machinery heat the water and make it very hot.Then this hot water is pushed up to the condensor. As the hot water reaches the the turbine it is converted into steam due to the high temperature of the condensor.Then it is passed through the turbine which is powered by the steam of the hot water. After passing through the turbine it reached the generator(which is powered by the turbine ) where the real process of the production of electricity begins. In this section eleactricity is produced and is transfered to the various power plants from where electricity is conducted to us.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as electricity generation and give a clear start-to-finish account, including water being pumped underground and electricity being produced by a generator. However, several important details are inaccurate or missing. The diagram shows cold water passing through hot rocks, then hot water rising through the production well; it does not show special machinery heating the water. The condenser produces steam before it reaches the turbine, whereas your account says the water reaches the turbine before becoming steam. The overview also says the process ends with distribution to power stations, which is not shown; the diagram indicates electricity is generated and sent through power lines. A more accurate overview and clearer reporting of the five stages would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows a generally understandable sequence, using “First of all,” “Then,” “As,” and “After passing through” to guide the reader through the process. This gives the account an overall progression from water entering the system to electricity being produced. However, the stages are compressed into one paragraph, and some links between them are unclear: “As the hot water reaches the turbine” conflicts with the later explanation that steam passes through it. The overview and process description would be easier to follow if separated into paragraphs and if each stage were linked in the correct order. Some transitions are also mechanical, so vary them while keeping the sequence explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “geothermal zone,” “turbine,” “generator,” and “steam,” which helps communicate the topic. There is also some attempt at more specific wording, such as “step-by-step process” and “production of electricity.” However, several word choices are inaccurate or imprecise for this diagram: “special machinery” is not shown, “power stations” is not the destination indicated, and “conducted to us” is an awkward way to describe electricity transmission. Spelling errors such as “condensor,” “eleactricity,” and “transfered” also reduce accuracy. Use the diagram’s labels and precise process terms, such as “injection well,” “production well,” and “transmitted through power lines.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a sequence of clauses beginning “As the hot water reaches…” and “After passing through…”. The main meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in sentence control and agreement are frequent enough to make parts less clear. For example, “the process consist” should be “the process consists,” and “special machinery heat” should be “special machinery heats.” The sentence beginning “As the hot water reaches the the turbine” is also structurally confusing because it joins the wrong stages. There are punctuation and capitalisation problems, including “overall” after a full stop and missing spaces after full stops. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and punctuating each process stage as a complete sentence.

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