Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-30
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 chart displays is produced shows how a biofuel called is ethanol is carbon dioxide and processing . Summarise is the information by the reporting and selecting the main features and made to comparisons where the relevant . The energy and sunlight and the carbon dioxide plants and trees grow tees and harvesting about . The carbon dioxide ethanol car carbon dioxide long wheel car carbon dioxide and processing sugars to make a sugar to pre- processing to cellulose . the selecting and reporting time to inhale carbon dioxide how ethanol is made pie chart the pie chat is good the main features . The comparisons where relevant the diagram below shows how a biofuel is called ethanol is the produced . The information by selecting and the reporting to the main features and the made comparisons biofuel . The energy plants and trees growing processing sugar cellulose the made comparisons where the relevant .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response fails to address the task requirements. Instead of summarizing the process of ethanol production, the text consists of fragmented phrases, repetitive instructions from the prompt, and irrelevant commentary such as 'the pie chat is good'. There is no clear description of the stages (growing, harvesting, processing, etc.) or the flow of the diagram. The content is largely incoherent and does not provide a summary of the information presented. Consequently, the response does not meet the requirements for Task Achievement as it fails to report on the main features or make relevant comparisons.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response lacks logical organization and progression. It is a collection of disjointed sentences and phrases that do not form a coherent summary. There is no paragraph structure, and the use of cohesive devices is absent or misused, making the text difficult to follow. The repetition of phrases like 'the main features' and 'made comparisons' creates a mechanical and confusing effect. The lack of clear transitions between ideas means the reader cannot identify the sequence of the ethanol production process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is extremely limited and repetitive. The student relies heavily on copying words directly from the prompt (e.g., 'summarise', 'information', 'selecting', 'reporting', 'main features') rather than using their own language to describe the process. There is no evidence of a range of vocabulary suitable for describing a technical process. Many words are used incorrectly or in nonsensical contexts, such as 'the pie chat is good', which is irrelevant to the diagram provided.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The grammatical structure is severely flawed. The response consists almost entirely of sentence fragments and ungrammatical strings of words. There is no evidence of complex sentence structures, and even simple sentences are constructed incorrectly (e.g., 'The chart displays is produced shows how a biofuel called is ethanol is carbon dioxide'). Punctuation is used randomly, and the lack of subject-verb agreement and correct word order makes the text nearly impossible to interpret. The frequency of errors is so high that it completely impedes communication.
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