Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-11

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 4.0)

Geothermal power plant is the main features and make comparisons where relevant first the geothermal energy can be make with the help of cold water in the diagram. They can show the cold water the cold water pumpoed down in the earth 4.5 km and the injection well the water can travel by geothermal zone between the hot rocks. When the water come the production well the hot water under the earth pumped up condenser in the diagram condenser is the number 4 the condenser steam around the turbine with the help of powered by steam .In the diagram number 5 generator can be connect in the electric tower .The generator work in the plant . They work with powered by turbine and produce electricity. When the electricity produce the generator transfer the electricity to the electric tower.In this system the geothermal power plant can be work and produce the electricity

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe the geothermal energy process but fails to provide a clear overview or a logical summary of the main features. The inclusion of the prompt's instructions ('the main features and make comparisons where relevant') in the opening sentence indicates a misunderstanding of the task requirements. While the response identifies some stages, such as the injection well and the turbine, the description is fragmented and lacks a cohesive explanation of the cycle. Key information is presented in a disjointed manner, and the lack of a clear summary of the process prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The response lacks paragraphing and logical progression. Ideas are presented as a series of simple, repetitive sentences without effective cohesive devices. The use of 'In the diagram' is repetitive and does not serve to link ideas smoothly. There is no clear structure to guide the reader through the stages of the process, making the text difficult to follow. The transition between the injection of water and the generation of electricity is abrupt and lacks the necessary logical connectors to show the relationship between the different parts of the system.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms and phrases taken directly from the prompt. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'can be make' instead of 'is produced' and 'pumpoed' (spelling error). The student struggles to use precise technical terminology appropriate for a process description, often resorting to vague descriptions like 'the water can travel' or 'the generator work in the plant'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the process clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There is a lack of control over basic sentence structures, with many run-on sentences and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'can be make', 'water come the production well', 'generator can be connect'). Punctuation is largely absent, and the misuse of articles and prepositions is pervasive. The response relies on simple, often faulty, sentence structures, and there is no evidence of complex sentence construction. These persistent errors make the text difficult to read and understand.

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.