Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-07

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 given information shows how electricity is produced with geothermal energy.

The power plant work very simple. We only need few things. Like cold water, the injection well, The production well, condenser, turbine and generator.

It consist of some steps to generate electricity from geothermal power plant. The first step is to pumped down cold water underground 4.5 km to the injection well in second step water is passes throw geothermal zone these are hot rocks which changed cold water to hot water. After that in third step water reach to the production well which pumped up hot water to the ground. In 4th step the condenser change the hot water to steam and push it to turbine which is runned by steam. When the turbine pass his energy to generator which is powerd by turbine and produce electricity and pass electricity to storage. There is some simple steps to produce electricity from geothermal power plant

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the geothermal energy process, identifying the key components like the injection well, production well, and turbine. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. The explanation of the steps is accurate but lacks the academic tone required for Task 1. To improve, you should focus on synthesizing the information into a cohesive summary rather than listing steps in a repetitive manner. Ensure you clearly highlight the transformation of energy from the underground heat source to the final electricity output.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into a series of steps, but the paragraphing is insufficient, as the entire body of the report is contained within a single, dense paragraph. While there is a logical sequence (first, second, third, 4th), the transitions are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and the lack of clear paragraph breaks makes the text feel like a list rather than a formal report. Improving the structure by grouping related stages into distinct paragraphs would significantly enhance the flow and readability of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is functional but quite limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on basic verbs like 'pumped', 'change', and 'pass'. There is little evidence of academic or technical vocabulary that would be expected in a description of a scientific process. For example, instead of saying 'the power plant work very simple', you should use more precise language such as 'the process is relatively straightforward'. Expanding your range of verbs and nouns related to energy production will help you achieve a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('The power plant work', 'water is passes'), incorrect verb forms ('is to pumped', 'is runned', 'is powerd'), and missing articles. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic verb tenses and passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing processes. Proofreading for common errors like 'is + past participle' versus 'is + present participle' will also be beneficial.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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