Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-24

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 process of how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.

Overall, the process is about producing electricity by using cold water into hot water and condense, the process of making steam then producing heat.

The diagrams shows that cold water has to pumped down into the injection well which has a depth of 4.5 km into the deep injection well. After the water was pumped down and passed through a Geothermal zone which consists of hot rocks, the process to make the water into hot water, then proceed to the production well respectively. Since ,the water is hot which produced from the geothermal zone. The hot water was pumped up to the condenser area and released the water into a steaming process.

The process of water into steam by the condenser is powered by steam and then powered by a generator turbine and finally produces electricity. It is a long process to generate considerable amount of heat

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages: cold water is sent down an injection well, heated by hot rocks, brought up through a production well, and used in a process involving steam and electricity generation. Including the well’s 4.5 km depth is a relevant detail. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: “producing heat” is not the final purpose, and the diagram shows electricity being produced by the generator. The later description also confuses the equipment’s roles, saying the condenser is “powered by steam” and that the generator is powered by a turbine; in fact, steam powers the turbine, which drives the generator. To strengthen the response, give a precise overview and report each stage and its function accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to the underground stages and then the equipment at the surface. Sequencing expressions such as “After” and “then” help show the process order. However, progression becomes difficult to follow in places because ideas are repeated or linked unclearly. For example, “the process to make the water into hot water, then proceed to the production well respectively” does not clearly connect the heating stage to the next step. The final paragraph also muddles the relationship between the condenser, steam, turbine and generator. Use one clear sentence for each stage and connect them with accurate references such as “this heated water” and “the resulting steam”.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “Geothermal zone,” “condenser,” and “generator,” which helps identify the diagram’s components. There are also attempts to describe technical actions, such as water being “pumped down” and “pumped up.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “condense” for the process, “released the water into a steaming process,” and “producing considerable amount of heat.” These choices sometimes obscure what the equipment does. Aim for precise process verbs and natural technical phrases, such as water being heated, steam being produced, and a turbine driving a generator. Avoid adding “heat” as the final output when the diagram’s stated output is electricity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the sequence is generally understandable, but errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between stages unclear. Examples include “The diagrams shows,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “has to pumped down,” which is missing “be.” Tense and clause construction are also inconsistent in “After the water was pumped down and passed through … the process to make the water into hot water.” The sentence beginning “Since ,the water is hot” is incomplete and has faulty punctuation. Practise forming accurate passive structures for processes—for example, “Cold water is pumped down” and “The heated water is pumped up”—and check agreement, articles and sentence boundaries.

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