Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-27
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 diagram demonstrates how electricity generated by using geothermal energy. Overall, cold water pumped down to hot rocks the production well pumped the hot water upward to the condenser steam enter the turbine and produced electricity by generator.
It can be seen that the cold water from the ground pumped down about 4.5 km to the the injection well. This well is present in the geothermal zone which was very hot the cold water of the ground become hot there, the heated water move horozontally to the production well, this well pumped the hot water to the condenser. In the condensor the hot water of the rocks produced steam.
Finally,the steam of the hot water moved to the uper part of the condensor and started moving to the turbine. The turbine powered by steam and start rotating. Then steam moved to the generator which was powered by 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 describe the main stages of the geothermal energy production process, successfully identifying key features such as the 4.5 km depth, injection and production wells, hot rocks, condenser, turbine, and generator. However, the response lacks a clear and coherent overview paragraph, which is essential for a Band 6 or higher in Academic Task 1. Furthermore, there are several inaccuracies and run-on phrasings in how the mechanical steps are connected, such as 'the production well pumped the hot water upward to the condenser steam enter the turbine'. While the overall progression of the diagram is covered, the lack of a proper introductory summary and underdeveloped organisation keep this criterion at Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The text is divided into three short paragraphs, but the logical flow and referencing are frequently disrupted by missing punctuation and run-on sentences. For example, the sentence 'Overall, cold water pumped down to hot rocks the production well pumped the hot water upward...' crams multiple distinct steps together without cohesive devices or proper clause boundaries. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is mechanical or inadequate, with abrupt transitions between sentences like 'Finally,the steam of the hot water moved...' Therefore, the organisational structure aligns closely with the Band 5 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the process, successfully employing terms like 'geothermal energy', 'injection well', 'production well', 'condenser', 'turbine', and 'generator'. However, there are noticeable word-choice and spelling errors that cause minor difficulties, such as 'horozontally' instead of horizontally, 'uper' instead of upper, and awkward lexical collocations like 'steam enter the turbine and produced electricity by generator'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are marred by these inaccuracies, making Band 5.0 an accurate reflection of lexical performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response features a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple clauses strung together or faulty complex sentences. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly missing auxiliary verbs, incorrect verb forms, and severe run-on sentences lacking punctuation (e.g., 'the cold water of the ground become hot there, the heated water move horozontally to the production well, this well pumped...'). Punctuation is neglected in several places, and subject-verb agreement issues are common ('water move', 'this well pumped'). These frequent errors and the lack of controlled complex structures place this performance firmly at Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0 based on positive achievement of basic communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.