Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-02

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 depicts how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity.

Overall, it can be observed that there are 5 major steps of geothermal power plant step1 cold water in step 4 condenser to steam in turbine then step 5 generator to supply power to tower.

As is illustrated by the diagram step 1 store a cold water in a drum and then dig under water tunnel of 4.5 km cold water slowely pumped down to the tunel and step 2 then injection well to geothermal zone (hot rocks)

On the other hand,step 3 the production well hot water pumped up step 4 condenser the steam into turbine step 5 powered by steam and power by

tubine and produces electricity through generator to electric tower through this the geothermal power plant work

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response achieves a partial overview of the process, but the length requirement is not met as the text is significantly under the 150-word minimum. The student outlines some main features of the geothermal power plant, such as the 4.5 km depth and the stages involving cold water, hot water, and the turbine, but these ideas remain limited and under-developed. Much of the description relies on fragmenting the process into mechanical lists of steps rather than presenting a fully formed report. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to expand on all parts of the diagram thoroughly and meet the minimum word count.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The text demonstrates some basic organisation with transitional markers such as 'Overall', 'As is illustrated', and 'On the other hand', but there is no clear overall progression. The information feels disjointed, and sentences run together without adequate logical structuring, particularly in the final paragraph. Paragraphing is rudimentary, and cohesive devices are often inaccurate or mechanically applied, causing the flow to break down frequently. To improve, the writer should group related stages into logical paragraphs and use standard cohesive devices naturally to guide the reader through the sequence of the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, featuring basic terms related to the diagram such as 'cold water', 'hot water', 'turbine', and 'generator'. However, there is a limited range of vocabulary, and noticeable errors in word choice and word formation occur, such as 'store a cold water' and 'power by tubine'. These inaccuracies sometimes cause difficulty for the reader. To move up to a higher band, the writer should incorporate a wider variety of less common lexical items related to scientific processes and ensure accurate spelling and word formation throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response relies on a very limited range of structures, with frequent errors that impede clarity and strain the reader. Simple sentences are missing proper punctuation and verbs in places, and attempts at more complex descriptions result in faulty syntax, such as missing articles ('store a cold water', 'under water tunnel') and incorrect prepositions or verb forms ('slowely pumped down'). Punctuation is largely neglected, with run-on phrasing masking clause boundaries. To progress, the writer needs to demonstrate control over basic sentence construction, improve subject-verb agreement, and use articles and prepositions accurately.

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

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