Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-23

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)

Given diagram shows how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.

First of all cold water pumped down almost 4.5 km to the injection well. Then there was a Geothermal zone also you can say hot rocks which turned the cold water to hot water and sends it to the production well which plays important role to produce electricity. The production well pumped up the hot water to condenser. Here's the main role condenser changed the hot water to steam. Then steam transferred to the turbine. The turbine is running with the power of steam basically you can say that turbine is powered by steam. Then you come to the last part of diagram which is known as generator. The turbine gives the power to generator or you can say like backwards generator is powered by turbine. And at the end generator produces the electricity. The electricity which everyone use at home or work or any place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the geothermal process, from the injection well to the final electricity production. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is essential for Task 1. The description is somewhat repetitive and relies on a step-by-step narrative that lacks analytical comparison or synthesis of the stages. While the main features are identified, the lack of a formal structure (such as an introduction and a concluding summary) limits the ability to fully convey the process in a professional, academic manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is written as a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the logical progression of the process. While there is a chronological sequence, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and repetitive (e.g., 'Then', 'And at the end'). There is no paragraphing to separate the different stages of the process, and the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the phrase 'Here's the main role condenser changed the hot water to steam', which lacks proper grammatical connection to the previous sentence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is functional but basic and often repetitive. Phrases like 'you can say' and 'basically you can say' are informal and inappropriate for an academic report. There is little attempt to use precise technical terminology or varied vocabulary to describe the process. The word choice is often simplistic, such as 'running with the power' or 'gives the power to', which does not reflect the level of precision expected in an academic task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('to injection well', 'to condenser'), incorrect verb tenses ('condenser changed' instead of 'changes'), and awkward sentence structures. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation. There is a very limited range of complex structures, and the reliance on simple, repetitive sentence patterns hinders the overall flow. The errors are frequent and occasionally make the meaning slightly difficult to follow, particularly in the middle section of the text.

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