Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-26

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 diagrame illustrates the process of production of electricity using geothermal energy, at geothermal power plant.

Overall, the electricity is produced at geothermal power plant and the process consists of 5 stages. Starting from cold water being pumped underground and going through the procedure, which results in rotaion of turbine, genrating electricity.

Firstly, the cold water is pumped underground, with help of injection well. It goes through the bed of heated stones, which is called geothermal zone, where it is heated and with the help of production well, water is pumped upwards in the condenser.

Subsequently, hot water is converted into the steam in the condenser. The steam than power the turbines, and with the help of turbines, the generator runs and electricity is produced, and futher supplied to towers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages, from cold water entering the injection well to electricity being generated, and your overview correctly notes that the process has five stages. The sequence of heating underground, pumping water back up, producing steam and driving the turbine is broadly accurate. However, the account is brief and some details are unclear or incomplete: for example, you do not mention the 4.5 km depth, and “supplied to towers” does not clearly describe the transmission pylon shown. The response also falls 20 words short of the required minimum, limiting the detail you can provide. Develop the overview and explain each stage more fully, using precise descriptions grounded in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction and overview are followed by the underground stages and then the conversion of steam into electricity. Sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Subsequently” help the reader follow the process. However, the final sentence joins several actions with repeated “and,” making the relationship between the turbine, generator and electricity supply less clear. The overview sentence also combines the starting point and outcome in a way that is somewhat awkward. Use separate, clearly linked sentences for the main stages, and make references such as “the turbines” precise. This would make the progression smoother while preserving the effective basic organisation.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “geothermal zone,” “condenser,” “steam” and “generator,” which allows the reader to understand the subject. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “pumped underground” and “heated stones.” However, several spelling errors—“diagrame,” “rotaion,” “genrating” and “futher”—are noticeable, and some choices are imprecise or unnatural. “Bed of heated stones” is less accurate than “hot rocks,” while “towers” does not clearly identify the transmission pylon. Aim for accurate spelling and use the diagram’s technical terms consistently; this will make the description more precise and easier to read.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and longer structures, including the relative clause in “where it is heated” and the sequence introduced by “Starting from.” The main process remains understandable, but some sentence structures are incomplete or awkward. “Starting from cold water being pumped underground and going through the procedure” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence, and “The steam than power the turbines” has a subject–verb agreement error. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “at geothermal power plant” and “in the condenser.” Use complete sentences with clear subjects and check agreement, articles and verb forms. More accurate control of these patterns would improve clarity.

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