Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-31

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 process diagram illustrates the information how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.

Overall , this process consist on five steps in which electricity produced .It starts from cold water that pumped down and ends on the fifth step where the electricity is produced .

Firstly , it starts from cold water that pumped down 4.5 kilo meter through the injection well . In this geothermal zone (hot roks) the cold water is converted into hot water . In the thirt step this hot water pumped up through the production well.

After the third step , in 4th step the hot water converted into steam by using condencer . In the 5th and last step this steam is used to rotate the turbine .Due to rotation of turbine electricity produced in the generator . This electricity sends to the power line .

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a sequence and report its main stages: water is pumped down the injection well, heated underground, brought up through the production well, and used to generate electricity. The overview also gives the correct start and end points. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows water passing through hot rocks and then being heated, rather than explicitly saying it is “converted” into hot water; the condenser produces steam, but your wording does not clearly explain this transformation. The generator’s connection to the transmission line is mentioned, though briefly. The response is 135 words, below the 150-word minimum, which limits the detail provided. Develop the overview and explain each stage more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows the process in a sensible order, using “Firstly,” “After the third step,” and “In the 5th and last step” to guide the reader through the stages. The paragraphing also separates the overview from the sequence of details. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, and the repeated references to numbered steps make the description less smooth. Some links between stages are not fully clear, particularly the transition from hot water entering the condenser to steam moving to the turbine. The opening and overview also contain awkward spacing and punctuation that interrupt the flow. To improve, group related stages into clearer sentences and use concise links such as “Once heated” or “The resulting steam then…”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “production well,” “geothermal zone,” “turbine,” and “generator,” which helps identify the equipment accurately. The range is nevertheless limited, with repeated use of “step,” “water,” and “produced,” and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate. For example, “electricity produced in the generator” is understandable but less natural than “the generator produces electricity,” while “power line” could be expressed more precisely as “transmission line.” Spelling errors such as “hot roks” and “condencer” are noticeable and reduce clarity. Build a wider set of process verbs and check technical terms carefully; this will make the account more precise without requiring complicated vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more connected sentences, and the sequence is generally understandable. However, errors occur frequently in basic sentence structures and verb forms, which can make the description difficult to read. Examples include “this process consist on five steps,” “electricity produced,” and “cold water that pumped down”; these need correct agreement, prepositions, and passive verb forms. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “by using condencer” and “In the 5th and last step this steam…” The final sentence, “This electricity sends to the power line,” also lacks the correct passive construction. Practise accurate patterns such as “water is pumped,” “the process consists of,” and “electricity is sent,” before adding more complex clauses.

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