Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-28
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 image illustrate the procedure by which electricity is produce by using geothermal energy.
Overal, it is clearly visible that there are 5 processes involved in producing electricity using geothermal energy. Starting with cold water pumped down and ending with tranfering the produced electricity in power lines.
Starting the process with first step is to pump down the cold water in the injection well. The injection well is 4.5 km long. The second step of the process is to transfer the cold water into geothermal zone from the injection well. Then the water will transfer to the production well. In the production well the water will converted into hot water due to hot rocks in the geothermal zone.
Further the hot water will convert into steam and then the steam will go to generator turbine where steam will prowered by turbine and produces electricity. The generator turbine is connected with the power lines after producing electricity is directly transferred to electric tower.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the process as a sequence and include several key stages, including cold water entering the injection well, the 4.5 km depth, heating in the geothermal zone, and electricity being sent to power lines. However, some important details are incomplete or inaccurate. The diagram shows water rising through the production well as hot water before it reaches the condenser, where it becomes steam; your account instead says it converts to steam before explaining the condenser. You also confuse the turbine and generator by describing a “generator turbine,” and do not clearly state that steam powers the turbine, which drives the generator. Give a more precise overview and explain each stage in the correct order.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a recognisable overall sequence, moving from the initial pumping stage through underground heating to electricity transmission. Paragraphing also separates the overview from the process description. Sequencing expressions such as “Starting,” “The second step,” and “Further” help the reader follow the stages, although some are repetitive or awkwardly attached to sentences. The progression becomes less clear near the end because the condenser is not identified and the turbine and generator are merged into “generator turbine.” Use clear stage-by-stage links, and make each sentence show how one component leads to the next. This would make the organisation more consistently easy to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “geothermal zone,” “hot rocks,” and “power lines,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the process unclear. For example, “transfer the cold water into geothermal zone” is less precise than saying it flows through the zone, while “generator turbine” incorrectly combines two separate components. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “tranfering,” “prowered,” and “electric tower.” Aim for accurate technical terms and varied process verbs such as “pump,” “heat,” “rise,” “convert,” and “drive.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, and the sequence can generally be understood. However, errors are frequent and include agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “The image illustrate” should be “The image illustrates,” and “electricity is produce” should be “electricity is produced.” In “the water will converted into hot water,” the verb needs a passive form (“will be converted”); “the steam will go to generator turbine” also needs an article and a clearer grammatical structure. The opening fragment, “Starting the process with first step,” is not a complete sentence. Practise accurate passive constructions, which are especially useful for describing processes, and check subject–verb agreement.
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