Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26
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 below illustrates how geothermal energy is being used to produce the electricity. As we can see in the diagram, it is the total procedure of a geothermal power plant. There are 5 steps in total, and the first step starts with the cold water. Cold water is being pumped down through 4 and a half km of distance to reach the second step. From where the geothermal zone is surrounded by the hot rocks and goes to the third step, which is called the production well. This is the place where the hot water is being pumped up from the production well to the second-to-last step, the condenser. Then the final steps are where the condenser pushes the hot water as steam to the generator turbine, which converts the steam to produce the electricity.
At last the diagram tells us that how the electricity is being produced following 5 major steps where all the step are very important for the workflow.
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 covers the main stages of the geothermal energy process, but it lacks a clear overview or summary of the overall mechanism. The description is somewhat mechanical, focusing on listing steps rather than synthesizing the information. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the process is slightly inaccurate (e.g., the condenser is described as the second-to-last step, but the diagram shows the turbine and generator as distinct components). The response would benefit from a more analytical approach that highlights the transformation of energy rather than just a step-by-step narration.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into two paragraphs, but the second paragraph is very brief and repetitive, essentially restating the introduction. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'first step', 'from where', and 'then', but the flow is somewhat disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the transition between the geothermal zone and the production well. The logical progression is present but could be improved by better linking the stages to show the continuous nature of the cycle.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'total procedure' and 'final steps are where' are somewhat simplistic. There is some reliance on the prompt's terminology, and the range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptive terms. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to energy production, such as 'harnessing', 'thermal energy', 'conversion', or 'pressurized'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'how the electricity is being produced' (unnecessary 'the'), 'all the step are' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'it is the total procedure of a geothermal power plant' (awkward phrasing). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text, indicating a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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