Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-12
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 following diagram describes the process of producing electricity by geothermal energy.
Overall, it can be seen that it consists on five distinct steps that starts from cold water and ends on generator which produce the electricity.
Initially, it is cleared from the picture that the main part is the cold water which is pumped down of about 4.5km in the surface. The substential step is the injection well in which the geothermal zone hot rocks are existed. Furthermore, the next part is the production well that pumped up the hot water to the uper surface.
Additionally, a condenser is placed at that place which converted the hot water into steam. That steam helped the turbine and turbine workes on powered by steam. When turbine powered by steam started the electricity is produced by generator. Finally, this electricity is then provided to the different grid stations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to summarise the diagram illustrating the geothermal energy production process, covering the main steps from cold water injection to electricity generation. However, the task is only partially addressed due to several under-developed descriptions and inaccuracies regarding the mechanism (such as stating the condenser converts hot water into steam, whereas a condenser typically cools steam back to liquid). Furthermore, the response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, coming in at 146 words. This results in a penalty under Task Achievement. While the overview captures the general flow of five steps, key comparisons and relationships between stages are insufficiently explored. Consequently, the score reflects limited development.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text demonstrates a basic level of organisation with an introductory sentence and some paragraph structuring. However, progression is hindered by mechanical and faulty cohesive devices. Phrases like 'Initially, it is cleared from the picture' and 'Furthermore, the next part' are awkward and used incorrectly to sequence the process. Reference pronouns are occasionally unclear, as seen in 'at that place' and 'That steam helped the turbine and turbine workes on powered by steam.' Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal logical flow between sentences is disrupted by grammatical awkwardness and poor transitional phrasing, limiting the score to a Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for a basic summary but shows significant limitations and inaccuracies. The student attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'substential' (misspelled from substantial), 'injection well', and 'condenser', but word choice and collocations are frequently flawed, for example, 'consists on' instead of 'consists of' and 'hot rocks are existed'. Spelling errors like 'substential', 'uper', and 'workes' detract from the quality. The lexical range is minimally adequate to convey the basic steps of the diagram, but frequent errors place it firmly at Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. While there are a few attempts at complex sentences using relative clauses and subordinate structures, these are frequently faulty, such as 'that starts from cold water and ends on generator which produce the electricity' (plural agreement error). Simple sentences contain persistent errors in verb forms, prepositions, and voice, such as 'hot water to the uper surface', 'hot water which is pumped down of about 4.5km in the surface', and 'turbine workes on powered by steam.' These frequent errors cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect Band 5.0 descriptor characteristics.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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