Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-09
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 diagram illustrates how to produce electricity by using geothermal energy.
Overall, producing electricity by using geothermal energy is a difficult task including five main stages from pumping cold water into geothermal zone to producing electricity.
In first stage, cold water is pumped down through a 4.5 km pipe. The injection well push the water further into geothermal zone where hot rocks boil the water. There is production well in further side of geothermal zone. In the next step, the well pump up the hot water into a condenser.
Consequntly, hot steam runs a turbine and the turbine run a generator and the generator produce electricity.
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 fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 106 words. Consequently, the description of the process is significantly underdeveloped. While you have identified the main stages of the geothermal energy production process, the lack of detail regarding the specific components and the cyclical nature of the system prevents a full overview. To improve, you must expand on the descriptions of each stage, ensuring you cover all parts of the diagram thoroughly. The current response is too brief to provide a comprehensive summary, which limits the score significantly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into short paragraphs, which helps with readability. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use basic transition words like 'In first stage' and 'In the next step', but the overall flow feels disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. To improve, try to use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link the stages more fluidly, such as 'subsequently', 'following this', or 'once the water has been heated'. The paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to group related steps of the process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for describing a technical process, using terms like 'geothermal zone', 'injection well', 'condenser', and 'turbine'. However, there is some repetition and minor inaccuracy, such as 'further side' instead of 'opposite side' or 'far side'. There is also a spelling error ('Consequntly'). To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary and ensure accurate spelling. The range of vocabulary is currently limited, which restricts your ability to describe the process with the necessary sophistication required for an Academic Task 1 response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. For example, 'In first stage' should be 'In the first stage', and 'The injection well push' should be 'The injection well pushes' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, 'the turbine run a generator' should be 'the turbine runs a generator'. While the sentence structures are mostly simple, there are attempts at complex sentences, but they are often marred by these basic errors. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
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.