Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-05
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 given process chart illustrates the information about the man made geothermal power plant used for the production of electricity with the help of several machines.
Overall, it is crystal clear that firstly pumping down the cold water took place underground which is about 4.5 km and ends up with the rotation of steam in the turbine to power the generator.
At a fleeting glance, in the beginning,the cold water has pumped downwards through injection well.In the following, the cold water has sent to the geothermal zone where water has been boiled to increase the temperature with the help of hot rocks and hot water has pumped upwards through the production well.
Moving further, moreover the condenser turn the hot water in to the steam and the steam has sent to the turbine which rotates the steam and send it into the generator which produce the electricity with the help of turbine.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the geothermal process, from the injection of cold water to the generation of electricity. However, the description of the process is somewhat inaccurate in places. For example, the text states that the condenser turns hot water into steam, whereas the diagram indicates that the steam is produced by the heat of the rocks in the geothermal zone. Additionally, the explanation of the turbine's role is slightly repetitive and lacks technical precision. While the main features are identified, the lack of clarity in the technical sequence prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly awkward. Phrases like 'At a fleeting glance' and 'In the following' are not used in a natural way for a process description. The transition between the injection phase and the production phase is abrupt. While there is an overall progression, the linking of ideas could be smoother and more varied to improve the flow of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a technical description. There are some word choice errors, such as 'man made geothermal power plant' (which is slightly redundant) and 'rotation of steam' (steam does not rotate; the turbine rotates). The range is limited, and the student relies on basic verbs like 'sent' and 'pumped' repeatedly. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more specific terminology related to energy production and improve collocation accuracy.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice construction. For instance, 'the cold water has pumped' should be 'is pumped' (passive voice), and 'the condenser turn' should be 'the condenser turns' (subject-verb agreement). There are also issues with punctuation and spacing, such as missing spaces after commas. These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract from the clarity of the process description.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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