Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-23

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 4.0)

this diagram illusrates the production process of electricity while using geothermal energy.

overall there are five steps that usually used for the production of electricity by geothermal energy,apparently these steps needs to be discussed in it.

at first cold water travels almost four to five kilometer downwards towards injection well in the geothermal zone where

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify the topic and begin to describe the first stage, noting that cold water is sent down an injection well. However, the response stops before explaining how the water is heated, brought back to the surface, converted to steam, and used to drive the turbine and generator. The overview that there are “five steps” is useful but does not summarise the process’s main transformation from cold water to electricity. The depth is also described as “almost four to five kilometer,” whereas the diagram gives 4.5 km. Most importantly, the response is far below the required 150 words, so the task is addressed only minimally. Cover the full sequence and include a clear overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sense of sequence: “overall” introduces a general statement, followed by “at first” to begin the process description. This gives the reader a starting point, but the explanation ends mid-sentence at “in the geothermal zone where,” so there is no progression through the remaining stages or concluding information. The ideas are also not separated into paragraphs, and the phrase “these steps needs to be discussed in it” does not clearly connect the overview to the process. To improve, organise the answer into an overview and a chronological description, then use clear links such as “Next,” “After being heated,” and “Finally” to guide the reader through every stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “geothermal energy,” “production process,” “cold water,” and “injection well,” which helps establish the subject. However, the range is very limited because the response covers only the opening stage, and some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “production of electricity” appears more than once, while “almost four to five kilometer” is an awkward way to report the depth. There is also a spelling error in “illusrates.” Use the diagram’s specific terms, such as “geothermal zone,” “production well,” “steam,” “turbine,” and “generator,” and choose concise process verbs such as “is pumped,” “is heated,” and “drives” to describe the stages accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both a general statement and a longer sentence describing the first stage, but grammatical control is uneven. In “there are five steps that usually used,” the relative clause is missing a verb form (“are usually used”), and “these steps needs” has a subject–verb agreement error. The final sentence is incomplete, ending with “where” and leaving the reader without the rest of the clause. Capitalisation at the start of sentences and punctuation around the opening clauses also need attention. Aim for complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and verb forms. For example, “Cold water is pumped down the injection well, where it is heated by hot rocks” gives a complete, accurate structure.

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