Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-20

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 4.5)

This is geothermal power plant this is work a cold water to hot water used to generator and turbine firstly cold water is go in the injection well in a injection site area is hot and it’s called geothermal zone hot rocks so provide a water heat and the water is production well through hot water is pumped up to condenser and generators provide a power continuously to turbine. turbine is provide a continuously steam A geothermal power plant generates electricity by using heat from inside the Earth. Underground heat produces steam, which turns a turbine connected to a generator. It is a renewable source of energy and produces relatively low carbon emissions. However, it can only be developed effectively in areas with suitable geothermal resources.” “A geothermal power plant is a type of renewable energy plant that generates electricity using heat from inside the Earth. First, hot water or steam is taken from deep underground through wells. The steam is then used to turn a turbine, and the turbine is connected to a generator that produces electricity. After that, the water can be returned underground and used again. Geothermal energy is considered environmentally friendly because it produces fewer carbon emissions than many traditional energy sources. However, geothermal power plants can only be built in areas where suitable underground heat resources are available. Overall, I think geothermal energy is a useful and sustainable source of electricity for the future.”

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to provide a coherent summary of the provided diagram. Instead of describing the process step-by-step, the text is fragmented and repetitive, appearing to be a collection of disjointed notes followed by a general explanation of geothermal energy. The initial section is confusing and lacks a clear overview of the process flow. Furthermore, the inclusion of personal opinions like 'I think geothermal energy is a useful... source' is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which requires an objective description of the visual data. The key features of the diagram, such as the cycle between injection and production wells, are not clearly explained.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The response lacks logical organization. It begins with a disjointed, ungrammatical description, followed by two separate paragraphs that seem to repeat the same information. There is no clear progression of ideas; the text jumps between descriptions of the process and general statements about renewable energy. Cohesive devices are either missing or used incorrectly, making the text difficult to follow. The paragraphing is arbitrary, as the response appears to be a collection of different drafts rather than a single, unified report. The lack of a clear introduction and a logical sequence of steps significantly hinders readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and often repetitive. While terms like 'geothermal,' 'injection well,' 'condenser,' and 'turbine' are used, they are often placed in ungrammatical contexts, such as 'this is work a cold water to hot water.' The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is a lack of precision in describing the mechanical process. The student relies on simple, repetitive phrasing to explain the energy generation cycle. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe technical processes, such as 'circulate,' 'harness,' 'convert,' and 'thermal energy,' while avoiding informal or opinionated language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are significant issues with sentence structure, such as run-on sentences and fragments (e.g., 'this is work a cold water to hot water used to generator and turbine'). Subject-verb agreement is often incorrect, and there is a lack of control over complex structures. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary quotation marks used throughout the text. The majority of the sentences are either incomplete or contain errors that make the intended meaning difficult to decipher. A focus on basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement is essential for improvement.

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