Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-25

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 6.0)

The process diagram shows the information on how geothermal energy helps to produce electricity.

Overall, there are five steps of producing electricity in geothermal power plant. The process starts with the cold water and ends with the generator producing electricity and providing to the electricity towers. Steam plays vital role in this process by powering the turbine.

The starting point of this process is cold water, which is pumped down 4.5 kilometers in the injection well. The Injection well contain hot rocks to increase the temperature of water. This zone is known as geothermal zone. The hot water then pumped up from the production well, which is just before the geothermal zone.

Steam is now converted into the electricity. Condenser turns the hot water into steam. This steam helps the turbine to rotate on its axis which helps generator to produce electricity. Generator then transfer this produced electricity to the giant electricity towers.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main stages and provide an overview, noting that the process begins with cold water and ends with electricity generation, with steam powering the turbine. Most of the sequence is reported, including the 4.5-kilometre injection well and the production well. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the injection well does not contain the hot rocks; the geothermal zone lies between the wells, where the water is heated. Also, the generator supplies electricity to transmission lines or a pylon, rather than “electricity towers.” The description of the condenser and the conversion to steam could be more precise. These relevant but unevenly developed details explain the level of task coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing the process, and the stages generally follow a logical order. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “The starting point,” and “then” help guide the reader. This clear overall progression is a strength. Some connections and references are less precise, however: “This zone” follows the claim that the injection well contains hot rocks, so it reinforces an inaccurate relationship, while “This steam” and “This produced electricity” repeat information rather than advancing it smoothly. The final paragraph also moves quickly from steam to the turbine and generator. More precise referencing and links that clarify cause and sequence would make cohesion more flexible and less repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “geothermal zone,” “condenser,” and “turbine,” which allows the reader to follow the stages. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “pumped down” and “rotate on its axis.” Some word choices and collocations are imprecise: “electricity towers” is not the natural term for the transmission structure, and “helps to produce electricity” is less direct than “generates electricity.” “The injection well contain hot rocks” also uses a misleading description of the geothermal zone. Aim for accurate technical collocations and avoid repeating “helps” when describing the turbine and generator’s functions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and some complex forms, including the relative clause “cold water, which is pumped down” and the sequence “which helps generator to produce electricity.” The overall meaning is usually clear, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “The Injection well contain” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “The hot water then pumped up” is missing an auxiliary verb. Articles are also omitted in “in geothermal power plant” and “helps generator.” The sentence “Steam is now converted into the electricity” is grammatically awkward and does not clearly express the process. Check agreement, passive verb forms, and articles, while retaining varied sentence structures.

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