Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-16

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 illustrates how geothermal energy is used to produce electricity. We can see the geothermal energy goes through with 5 different steps to produce electricity. Water is the main ingredient of this production.

In geothermal electricity production cold water goes through the geothermal zone and becomes hot and the steam of the water does the next step.

The hot water steam generates the turbine and when the turbine starts in a circluer motion powered by the steam that produces the electricity.

In geothermal electricity production the one thing is widely used is water. So, there's a need of huge water supply for this method. We have a great amount of ocean water but that can't be used in geothermal electricity production as that's salty. Because of that, there can be a shortage of drinkable water. Otherwise, geothermal method is quite energy saving as there's no use of gas and coals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the topic and mention a few relevant stages, including cold water passing through the geothermal zone and steam powering a turbine. However, the process is only minimally described: the injection and production wells, the 4.5 km depth, the condenser, and the generator’s role are omitted or unclear. The statement that the turbine “produces the electricity” misrepresents the diagram, which shows the turbine driving a generator. The final paragraph adds unsupported discussion of ocean water, drinking-water shortages, and energy savings rather than summarising the visual. The response is also 144 words, six words below the 150-word minimum; the eight words copied from the task prompt were not counted. To improve, give a concise overview and accurately report the main stages without adding outside claims.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has paragraph breaks and a basic sequence from introducing the process to describing water, steam, and the turbine. This gives the reader some organisation, but the progression is not consistently clear: the second and third paragraphs repeat the process introduction, and the final paragraph shifts to water scarcity and fuel use without a logical link to the diagram. Connect each stage explicitly, for example by showing how water moves underground, returns as hot water, and is converted to steam before powering the turbine and generator. Cohesive phrases such as “next” and “because of that” are used, but some links do not support a relevant process summary. A clearer stage-by-stage structure would make the account easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “geothermal zone,” “cold water,” “steam,” and “turbine,” so the basic subject is recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or awkward, such as “the main ingredient,” “the turbine starts in a circluer motion,” and “the one thing is widely used.” “Circluer” is also misspelled, and “energy saving” is not a precise description of the process shown. The discussion of “drinkable water” and “ocean water” uses vocabulary that is not needed for this diagram. Aim for accurate process terms and collocations, such as “is pumped down,” “is heated underground,” and “drives the generator,” rather than informal or unclear phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, including a sentence beginning “Because of that,” and the main topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited, and errors recur in sentence construction and grammatical patterns. For example, “We can see the geothermal energy goes through with 5 different steps” has an awkward clause structure, while “The hot water steam generates the turbine” does not clearly express the relationship between the steam and turbine. “The one thing is widely used is water” is also structurally incomplete. Practise forming clear passive process sentences and linking clauses accurately, such as “Cold water is pumped underground, where it is heated by hot rocks.” More reliable sentence patterns would improve clarity.

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.