Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-24

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)

The provide diagrame illustrates geothermal powe plan which is utilized for produce electricity.

At a glance, it is evident that geothermal energy has five steps to produce electricity.The step started with cold water and finish with generator turbine.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the topic as geothermal electricity production and attempts an overview by saying there are five steps. However, it does not summarise the process: none of the key stages—water being pumped underground, heated by hot rocks, returned to the surface, converted to steam, and used to drive a turbine and generator—is explained. The statement that it “finish[es] with generator turbine” is also unclear and does not accurately describe the final sequence. The overview is therefore too limited to show the main features, and there are no supporting details. The response is also substantially below the required 150 words. To improve, describe the stages in order and include the 4.5 km depth and the roles of the turbine and generator.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: a topic sentence is followed by an overview introduced with “At a glance”. This gives the reader a minimal sense of progression. However, the response ends before it develops into a description of the process, so the stages are not sequenced or connected. The phrase “The step started with cold water and finish with generator turbine” does not clearly link the beginning and end of the process, and there is no paragraphing to distinguish an overview from stage details. Build a clear sequence using links such as “first”, “then”, and “finally”, and use separate paragraphs for the overview and the process description.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few relevant terms, including “geothermal energy”, “cold water”, “electricity”, and “generator”, so the topic is recognisable. However, the vocabulary range is very limited, and several spelling or word-form errors make the writing less clear: “diagrame”, “powe”, and “plan” appear to be attempts at “diagram”, “power”, and “plant”. The phrase “geothermal powe plan” is not an accurate or natural way to name the process, while “generator turbine” does not clearly express the relationship between the two machines. Use the diagram’s precise labels, such as “injection well”, “production well”, “steam”, and “turbine”, and choose accurate process verbs such as “pump”, “heat”, and “drive”.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts two complete sentences and uses a simple overview structure, but grammatical control is weak. In “The step started with cold water and finish with generator turbine”, the verb forms do not agree: “started” is past tense while “finish” is present, and the process is better described consistently in the present simple. The phrase also needs clearer sentence structure to show that the generator is driven by the turbine. In the first sentence, “is utilized for produce electricity” uses an incorrect verb pattern; use “is used to produce electricity”. There is little variety in sentence forms, and these errors make the limited description harder to follow. Practise accurate present-simple process sentences and verb patterns such as “used to + verb”.

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

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