Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 explain the process of biofuel production of ethanol. It is also known by the name ethyl alcohol. It is a colourless and flameable liquid. Overall there are seven stages to make ethanol beginning with trees grow and culminated is shipping.

First process to make ethanol is harvesting the plants and trees which gain energy from sunlight and produce carbon dioxide. After harvesting the manufacturer send the trees to pre-processing in which they grind the wood and separate cellulose which is the main ingredient to make ethanol.

After that' cellulose goes to a lab processing in which they separate sugar from cellulose. In the last process' microbes added in that sugar particals in which ethanol produced. Now its ready to use for different purpose like in perfumes solvent, alcoholic drinks, fuel and medical uses. Ethanol also produced carbon dioxide which is cosumed by the trees and this circle of ethanol is repeated.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the subject and give a broad account of the production cycle, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, sugars, microbes and carbon dioxide returning to plants. However, the overview is inaccurate: the diagram does not show seven stages ending in shipping; it shows a cycle that continues through ethanol use in a car, truck and aeroplane, with carbon dioxide returning to the plants. Several details are added without support, such as ethanol’s uses in perfumes, drinks and medicine, and the claim that wood is ground and cellulose separated in a particular way. To strengthen the response, describe the diagram’s main stages and circular nature accurately, and avoid information not shown.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally understandable sequence, moving from plant growth and harvesting through processing to ethanol and the return of carbon dioxide. Paragraphing also separates the opening from the process description. However, the progression is weakened by the inaccurate statement that the process culminates in shipping, followed by a list of uses that interrupts the account of the diagram. Some links are mechanical, such as “After that” and “In the last process,” and references such as “that sugar particals” are not fully clear. Organise the stages in the order shown, use a concise overview before the details, and make the final paragraph clearly explain how transport use completes the cycle.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps communicate the topic. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “main ingredient” and “culminated.” However, some choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this diagram: “shipping” does not describe the transport stage shown, and “lab processing” is not indicated. Spelling errors such as “flameable,” “particals” and “cosumed” reduce accuracy, while “different purpose” is imprecise. Aim for precise process terms and check spelling and collocations; for example, describe ethanol as being used as fuel in transport rather than adding unrelated uses.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “cellulose which is the main ingredient” and a sequence of linked process stages. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some parts awkward. For example, “The diagram explain” needs subject–verb agreement, “trees grow” should be framed as a complete stage, and “the manufacturer send” has an incorrect verb form. The sentence beginning “In the last process” is also difficult to follow because its clauses are not joined clearly. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions, such as “the cellulose is processed” and “microbes are added,” and use full stops rather than apostrophes to separate sentences.

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