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 diagram shows the process of electricity produced by the use of geothermal plant.

Overall, we can see that the process of electricity goes through many process by geothermal plant it starts with cold water into injection well amd ends with steam on turbines and gernate electricity.

In the first step, water is stored in a specific area and then it travels around 4.5 km towards the injection well under the earth. Furthermore, we can see that water travels in the geothermal zone where it faces hot rocks and reached the production well. In production well, hot water is pumped up towards the condensor in the form of steam.

In condensor, steam is moving towards the turbine and turbines are moving fast in a circulatory motion. Therefore, these turbines start the gernator which produce electricity and it moves towards the pole by wire.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages, including water being pumped underground, heated by hot rocks, brought back to the surface, and used to generate electricity. The 4.5 km depth is also reported accurately. However, the overview is unclear and partly misstates the sequence: it says the process “ends with steam on turbines,” whereas electricity generation by the generator is the final stage. The description also says hot water reaches the condenser “in the form of steam”; the diagram shows hot water rising first, then steam being released at the condenser. The turbine’s role is described, but the condenser’s function is not made clear. The response is 143 words, below the required 150, and some key stages are therefore only briefly explained.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the process in sequence. Connectors such as “In the first step,” “Furthermore,” and “Therefore” help guide the reader through the stages. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship accurately. For example, “Therefore” introduces the generator stage without clearly explaining that the turbine drives it, while “Overall” is followed by a confusing summary of where the process starts and ends. Repetition of “water,” “steam,” and “turbine” also makes the progression less smooth. To improve, use clearer stage-to-stage links and ensure each sentence follows the process diagram’s sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “geothermal zone,” “production well,” and “4.5 km,” which helps convey the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the process harder to understand. “Water travels in the geothermal zone where it faces hot rocks” is an awkward way to describe water passing through rocks that heat it. “Turbines are moving fast in a circulatory motion” adds an unsupported detail and is not a natural technical description. There are also spelling errors in “amd,” “gernate,” “condensor,” and “gernator.” Aim for precise process verbs such as “passes through,” “is heated,” and “drives,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a sequence joined with “and then” and a clause beginning “where.” The main stages are generally understandable, but errors in sentence structure and verb forms are noticeable. For example, “the process of electricity goes through many process” has an unclear construction and incorrect singular/plural agreement, while “these turbines start the gernator which produce electricity” has a subject–verb agreement error and an unclear relative clause. The overview sentence also runs several ideas together without clear punctuation. Use shorter, controlled sentences to describe each stage, and check agreement, articles, and punctuation when combining clauses.

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