Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-04
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 5.0)
The figures
The diagram presents process of electricity generation from Geothermal power unit. The illustration show that the main source electricity production is water. Initially, the cold water is pumped down into the injection well which has length of 4.5 km. Further, cold water is passed to geothermal zone which is composed of hot rocks. The purpose of hot rocks is to make water warm. Afterward, hot water is pumped up to condenser from the production well. up the condenser is full of steam which is blown from turbine. Turbine is powered by
steam. This steam is used to produce electricity in generator and trasmitted through electric poll.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 108 words. This significantly impacts the task achievement, as the description of the process is incomplete and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the geothermal energy cycle. While the student identifies the main stages, the explanation is fragmented and ends abruptly, failing to describe the final stages of the process clearly. To improve, you must ensure all steps of the diagram are described in detail and that the response meets the length requirement to allow for a full explanation of the process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response lacks a clear paragraph structure, which is essential for a report. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the process using transition words like 'Initially', 'Further', and 'Afterward', the flow is disrupted by the incomplete nature of the sentences and the lack of a concluding summary. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the text feels like a series of disjointed points rather than a cohesive report. To improve, organize your writing into clear paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph describing the process, and a brief overview or summary.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms such as 'cold water', 'hot rocks', and 'hot water'. There is little attempt to use more precise technical vocabulary related to energy production, such as 'geothermal reservoir', 'thermal energy', or 'pressurized steam'. Additionally, there are errors in word choice, such as 'electric poll' instead of 'electricity pylons' or 'power lines'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to the diagram and avoid repeating the same basic nouns and verbs throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('the' before 'process', 'the' before 'main source') and awkward phrasing. Sentence structures are simple and repetitive, with little evidence of complex sentence construction. There are also punctuation issues and incomplete sentences, such as 'up the condenser is full of steam which is blown from turbine.' The lack of control over basic grammar and sentence structure makes the text difficult to follow. Focus on using a mix of simple and complex sentences and pay closer attention to articles and prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.