Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

 

The diagram below shows how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The diagram illustrates the production of Alcohal from the natural process.

Overall, biofuel production are started from plants and trees and add several ingredients then processed it into final compound called ethanol.

To begin with, plants and trees were growing through natural energy like sunlight and carbon dioxide.Then these crops harvested through a tractor. Afterwards, It had some pre-processing time then resulted into cellulose.

Subsequently, final processing time has been started added ingredients in the flask and then it resulted in the form of sugars. Afterthat, microbes were added and then it converted it into final form of ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the general subject and describe several early and middle stages, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, sugars and the addition of microbes. However, the account is only partial: it stops at ethanol and omits its use in cars, trucks and aircraft, as well as the carbon dioxide released and returned to support plant growth. The overview is also unclear and does not explain the diagram’s circular nature. Some details are inaccurate or unsupported, such as saying ingredients are added “in the flask”; the diagram shows processing but no flask. The response is also 51 words below the required minimum, which limits how fully you can report the main features. Cover the complete cycle and give a concise, accurate overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence: an opening, an overview, and two paragraphs that move through the production stages. Linking expressions such as “To begin with,” “Afterwards,” and “Subsequently” help the reader follow the process. However, the progression ends before the final stages, so the account does not form a complete description of the diagram. Some links are mechanical or unclear: “Afterwards, It had some pre-processing time then resulted into cellulose” does not make clear what “it” refers to, and “Afterthat” is joined incorrectly. Organise the stages into a complete start-to-finish cycle, use clear references to the material at each stage, and connect the transport and carbon-dioxide return stages to the opening.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant process terms, including “harvested,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes” and “ethanol,” which make the topic identifiable. However, the range is limited, and some choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing a diagram. “Alcohal” is misspelled and is not the appropriate name for the product; “final compound” is vague, while “ingredients in the flask” introduces an unsupported object. Phrases such as “natural process,” “pre-processing time” and “final processing time” do not precisely describe the stages. Aim for accurate process vocabulary and natural collocations, such as “is converted into” or “is released,” and use the diagram’s labels rather than adding details.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and linked sentences, and the reader can generally understand the intended sequence. However, control is uneven, particularly when describing passive processes. For example, “biofuel production are started” has subject–verb disagreement and an unsuitable verb form, while “these crops harvested through a tractor” is missing an auxiliary. The construction “then it resulted in the form of sugars” is also awkwardly formed, and “Afterwards, It” uses an unnecessary capital letter. Several sentences join stages without clear grammatical relationships, as in “then processed it into final compound.” Practise accurate passive forms such as “the crops are harvested” and “the cellulose is processed into sugars,” and check agreement, articles and sentence boundaries.

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