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 Diagram depicts the process of producing electricity through geothermal energy.

Geothermal power plant consists of Cold water tank, The injection wall, Hot rocks (which is also called Geothermal zone), The production well, Condenser and Generator-Turbine chamber which includes both generator and turbine.

However, The process flows through pumping down of cold water from cold water tank through pumps, then the cold water is passed through Geothermal zone which is made up of hot rocks (The hot rocks heats up the cold water and transform it into another state of matter), Thereafter the Gas produced through the geothermal zone passes through the production well and it pumps up the gas to condenser through pumping system. The Condenser condenses the gas and allows it to travel to the Generator-Turbine chamber. The gas initially comes in contact with turbine, upon contact with the steam the turbine starts rotating. The Rotating turbine leads to the first step of Energy production which is turning on the generator, Turbine rotates at a speed which ultimately leads to the production of energy through generator. The Generator lastly connects to the Transmisson tower which transmits the Geothermal Energy generated.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the subject and include several key stages, including water being sent underground, heated by hot rocks, brought back to the surface, and used to drive a turbine and generator. However, the account only partially reports the process accurately. In particular, the condenser is described as condensing gas, whereas the diagram shows it releasing steam; the production well carries hot water upward, not gas. The overview is also limited: it lists components but does not clearly summarise the overall transformation from cold water to electricity. Some details, such as the 4.5 km depth and the separate injection and production wells, are omitted. Focus on the main stages and describe each transition precisely, without adding unsupported pumping or operating details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence, and linking expressions such as “Thereafter,” “The,” and “lastly” help guide the reader through the stages. The opening also establishes the topic before the process description begins. However, the component list in the second paragraph interrupts the process account, and the final paragraph contains several stages in one long chain, making the relationships between them less clear. Some references, such as “the gas” and “it,” are difficult to follow because the diagram shows hot water becoming steam rather than gas being pumped through the system. Organise the response into a brief overview followed by clearly separated stages, and use precise references to maintain progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “pumping,” “Geothermal zone,” “production well,” “turbine,” and “transmits,” which makes the topic recognisable. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “another state of matter” and “production of energy.” However, several word choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this diagram: “wall” is used for “well,” “gas” replaces hot water or steam, and “condenses the gas” misrepresents the condenser’s function. “Generator-Turbine chamber” also suggests a single chamber not identified in the diagram. Choose technical terms carefully and avoid repeating broad phrases such as “production of energy”; accurate labels will improve precision and naturalness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a sequence of clauses linked with “then,” “Thereafter,” and “upon contact.” Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical errors and awkward constructions reduce clarity. For example, “The hot rocks heats up” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “the cold water is passed … which is made up of hot rocks” creates an unclear relative clause. The sentence beginning “The Rotating turbine leads…” is also overloaded, and “turning on the generator” does not express the intended process naturally. Use shorter sentences for individual stages, check agreement and articles, and make sure each relative clause clearly refers to the correct noun.

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