Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-18
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 illustrates how the geothermal energy is consumed to produce electricity.
Overall, it is clear that there are five steps to complete the upper procedure. The first step is Cold water that are pumped down through the tunnel and the last step is Generator Turbine that are produce electricity through the turbine.
On the one hand, we explain the first step is Cold water in which water pumped down through the 4.5 km tunnel to the injection well. In this step water goes to Geothermal zone [hot rocks] into the third step that are known as the production well. The hot water goes up from the production well to the condensor. After that, water converted into steam due to high temperature. And moving towards the final step which is generator turbine in which turbine powered by the steam . And the Generator get powers from the turbine and produces electricity.
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 student attempts to summarise the diagram illustrating the geothermal energy production process, successfully meeting the minimum word count with 152 words. The response identifies key stages such as cold water being pumped down through a 4.5 km tunnel, reaching the geothermal zone, and moving to the production well, condenser, and turbine. However, there are notable inaccuracies in reporting the sequence and relationships: the student writes that 'water goes to Geothermal zone into the third step that are known as the production well' and confuses the condenser and generator turbine stages. Furthermore, the overview is overly simplistic, and the information lacks full development and precise reporting of the mechanics shown in the diagram, placing this performance in Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response exhibits some basic organisation, opening with an introductory sentence and attempting a chronological overview ('The first step...', 'the last step...'). However, the overall progression is disjointed and confused by grammatical errors. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively, such as 'On the one hand' which is incorrectly applied to sequence steps rather than contrasting viewpoints. Paragraphing is weak, with the entire body of the report crammed into a single block of text following the introduction. Referencing is also unclear in places, making it difficult for the reader to follow the exact flow of the process. This corresponds to a Band 5 performance.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student uses a limited and repetitive range of vocabulary directly lifted from the prompt labels, such as 'Cold water', 'injection well', 'Geothermal zone', and 'production well'. There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'consumed' instead of 'harnessed' or 'utilised', and 'water converted into steam' without appropriate auxiliary verbs. While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the basic topic, errors in word formation and collocation (e.g., 'Generator Turbine that are produce electricity') cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the response from achieving a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a very limited range of sentence structures, relying primarily on simple and faulty complex sentences. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('Cold water that are pumped', 'third step that are known'), missing articles ('to the condensor'), and incomplete verb phrases ('water converted into steam'). Punctuation is also problematic, with run-on sentences and erratic capitalisation. These persistent errors frequently strain the reader and reflect a weak control of grammatical accuracy, aligning with Band 4.5 or a solid Band 5 descriptor.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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