Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-29

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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates the process of producing electricity from geothermal energy.

Overall, the procedure takes five steps to cover the full cycle from containing cold water to the electricity distribution to electric cable towers and poles.

Initially, the cold water has been collected to the storage on the surface level, which is pumped down to the induction well at around 4.5km deep. Another well for production is situated far away at the same level under the ground. The zone between those wells is called Geothermal zone, where the cold water comes in, gets warm by the presented hot rocks naturally and stores into the production well. It then pumped up to the condenser in the form of steam before going to the next stage. Moreover, a large turbine is being connected to the generator which rotates with the help of steam. The generator powered by the turbine produces electricity. At the end, the electric towers attached with generator helps to get electricity to the area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the process as geothermal electricity production and give a relevant overview of its main stages, including water being pumped underground, heated by hot rocks, and used to drive a turbine and generator. The 4.5 km depth is also reported accurately. This covers the task’s central features, but some details are unclear or inaccurate: the water is not pumped to the condenser “in the form of steam”; it is pumped up as hot water, and steam is produced at the condenser. The overview’s “full cycle” is misleading because the diagram shows a sequence rather than a cycle, and the final distribution stage is overstated: it shows a connection to a transmission pylon, not electricity reaching an area. Clarifying these points and describing the stages more precisely would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction, an overview, and a chronological account of the process. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Moreover,” and “At the end” help the reader follow the stages, and the main ideas are presented in a sensible order. However, some links are mechanical or do not accurately signal the process. “Moreover” introduces the turbine stage, which is a continuation rather than an additional point, while “At the end” could more precisely introduce the generator’s connection to the pylon. Several long sentences also combine multiple stages, making relationships less clear—for example, the sentence about the geothermal zone and production well. Use clearer stage-by-stage sentences and more precise referencing to improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “storage,” “production well,” “geothermal zone,” “condenser,” “turbine,” and “generator.” These terms make the subject clear, and “pumped down” and “pumped up” convey the water’s movement. Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “induction well” does not match the diagram’s “injection well,” “electric cable towers and poles” is an awkward description of the transmission pylon, and “stores into the production well” does not express the water’s movement naturally. “Electricity distribution” also suggests a broader system than the diagram depicts. More precise technical terms and natural collocations would make the description clearer and more flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a relative clause in “the zone between those wells is called Geothermal zone” and a sequence of linked process clauses. The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but some errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction reduce accuracy. For example, “It then pumped up” needs a passive verb (“is then pumped up”), and “the cold water has been collected to the storage” uses an unsuitable tense and preposition. “The generator powered by the turbine produces electricity” also needs a clearer grammatical link, such as “The turbine powers the generator, which produces electricity.” Aim to maintain accurate passive forms for process descriptions and check articles and agreement in longer sentences.

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