Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-29
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 used to generate electricity. Overall, it a geothermal power plant which is used to produce electricity.
Initially, it is started from cold water which pumped down towards the injection wall. The depth between the cold water and injection well is approximately 4.5km. The cold water further flow through the geothermal zone that is also known as hot rocks. This reaches to the production well where it turns into hot water and pumped up to enter the condenser. After arriving to the condenser hot water changes into steam. Then the steam runs the turbine which powered by turbine and produces electricity. It further supply to the commercial areas and household to use it.
At the end, steam drives the turbine then move to the generator which powered by turbine and generates the electricity.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
The student attempts to describe the main steps of the geothermal energy process, covering key features such as the 4.5km depth, injection well, geothermal zone, production well, condenser, turbine, and generator. However, the overview is extremely weak, consisting merely of a copied fragment ('it a geothermal power plant which is used to produce electricity'). Furthermore, the response contains inaccurate mechanical descriptions, such as stating that cold water is pumped down towards the 'injection wall' (instead of well) and confusing the sequence where steam enters the condenser before the turbine. Crucially, the word count is 140 words, failing to meet the minimum 150-word requirement, which results in a penalty under Task Achievement descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response shows some basic attempt at logical sequencing by following the steps from cold water to electricity generation. However, paragraphing is extremely poor and fragmented, with single-sentence paragraphs and repetitive concluding statements ('At the end, steam drives the turbine...'). Cohesive devices are minimal, repetitive, and sometimes misused (e.g., 'Initially, it is started from', 'It further supply'). Referencing is also confusing at times, making the overall progression clumsy and mechanical rather than naturally flowing.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The lexical range is limited and frequently repetitive, relying heavily on basic vocabulary ('cold water', 'hot water', 'steam', 'turbine', 'generator', 'electricity'). There are noticeable word-choice and terminology errors, such as referring to the 'injection wall' instead of 'well', and awkward phrasing like 'it is started from cold water which pumped down'. While some process-specific terms are present, inaccuracies in collocation and vocabulary restrict the score to the lower band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent structural errors. There are notable grammatical issues throughout, including missing auxiliary verbs ('which pumped down', 'that also known as'), tense confusion ('The cold water further flow'), and preposition errors ('arriving to the condenser'). Subject-verb agreement and voice are also poorly handled ('which powered by turbine'). These persistent errors frequently cause strain for the reader.
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