Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-04

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 illustrates the process of how electricity is produced from geothermal energy.

Overall, the Geothermal power plant process contains five distinct stages, it start with cold water which went down and end with generator turbine.

At the intial stage, the cold water pumped down about 4.5 km, after that the injection well which moves forward to geothermal zone (hot rocks). In the third stage, hot water pumped up from the production well to condenser which is the fourth stage, where hot water transformed into steam to produced electricity.

After that, steam goes to the turbine powered by steam and then it will goes to generator which is powered by turbine and produces electricity at the fifth stage. Finally, electricity which is produced now it is tranformed to the towers that supply the eclectricity to the homes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as geothermal electricity production and include several key stages: cold water is sent underground, heated in the geothermal zone, brought up through the production well, and converted to steam before driving machinery. However, the overview is unclear and inaccurate: it says the process ends with the “generator turbine,” whereas the turbine drives the generator and electricity is the final output. The description also misstates the sequence by suggesting the injection well moves forward to the geothermal zone, and it adds that electricity is supplied to homes, which is not shown; the diagram shows transmission lines and a pylon. The response is 13 words below the required minimum, limiting the detail provided. A clearer overview and more precise account of the stages would strengthen coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, with an introduction, an overview and a description of the process. Sequencing phrases such as “At the initial stage,” “In the third stage,” and “After that” help the reader follow the intended order. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview says there are five stages but gives an incorrect endpoint, and the final paragraph introduces “Finally” after already describing the generator. Some links are also awkward or repetitive, particularly “after that” and the repeated use of “stage.” Group the stages into a more logical sequence and use references such as “this heated water” or “the resulting steam” to connect steps without repeatedly numbering them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “injection well,” “geothermal zone,” “production well,” “condenser,” “steam,” and “turbine,” which makes the subject recognisable. However, the range of verbs and descriptions is limited, and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate: “moves forward to geothermal zone” does not clearly describe water flowing through the hot rocks, while “transformed into steam to produced electricity” confuses the conversion stage with electricity generation. Spelling errors such as “intial,” “tranformed,” and “eclectricity” are noticeable. Aim for precise process verbs and check spelling; this will make the description clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, errors are frequent, especially in verb forms and sentence construction. For example, “it start with cold water which went down” shifts tense and has incorrect subject–verb agreement; “to produced electricity” uses the wrong verb form; and “then it will goes to generator” combines an incorrect auxiliary with a verb ending. The overview also joins two independent ideas with a comma in “five distinct stages, it start…”. Use the present simple consistently for a process, check agreement and infinitive forms, and divide long or joined clauses into complete sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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