Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-21
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 digram below illustrates the process of how geothermal energy is used to produce energy.
Overall, the geothermal power plant process constists of 5 stages, starting from cold water to the final stage of power generating.
The first stage starts with cold water pumped down underground in long tunnel of 4,5 km, next the injenction well pours the water into a geothermal zone of hot rock to heat it up.
In addition, the production well pumpes up the hot water to the consdenser, furthermore turbine is created and powered by the passing steam. Finally the generator is activated and powered by turbine and thus it produces 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 107 words. This significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description of the process. While the student identifies the main stages of the geothermal energy production cycle, the lack of detail and the failure to reach the required length mean the task is only partially addressed. To improve, the student should expand on the description of each stage, providing more specific details from the diagram, such as the depth of the well or the specific function of the condenser, to ensure a more comprehensive report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a brief introduction and a single body paragraph. While there is a basic attempt at logical sequencing using transition words like 'next', 'in addition', and 'finally', the overall structure is underdeveloped due to the brevity of the text. The paragraphing is insufficient, as the entire process description is crammed into one block. To achieve a higher band, the student should use more sophisticated cohesive devices and organize the information into distinct, logical paragraphs that clearly separate the different phases of the geothermal process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally functional but limited. There are several spelling errors, such as 'digram' (diagram), 'constists' (consists), 'injenction' (injection), and 'consdenser' (condenser). These errors, while not always impeding communication, demonstrate a lack of precision. The range of vocabulary is narrow, relying on basic verbs like 'pumped' and 'pours'. To improve, the student should focus on accurate spelling and incorporate more precise technical terminology related to energy production, such as 'geothermal reservoir', 'thermal energy', or 'steam-driven turbine', to demonstrate a wider and more accurate lexical range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'in long tunnel of 4,5 km' (missing articles and incorrect preposition usage), 'turbine is created and powered' (awkward phrasing), and 'powered by turbine' (missing article). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, particularly the correct use of articles ('a', 'the') and prepositions, and ensure that subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the text.
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.