Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03

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 process of production of ethanol in different steps.

Overall, the biofuel can be produced in nine stages. It starts with the absorption of energy by plants and ends with the emission of gas into the atmosphere.

Firstly, plants and trees grow by absorption of sunlight and carbon dioxide. Trees are harvested with machines, and harvested material is transferred to the preprocessing stage. Resultantly, cellulose will be synthesized. After that, sugar will be made in a laboratory by further processing.

The next small microorganism will be added for consumption of sugars. Consequently, ethanol will be generated in large amounts and utilized as a biofuel in vehicles. In the end carbon dioxide is eliminated as a waste product from various transport vehicles such as cars, buses, and airplanes. In the final stage gas will be emitted to our ecosystem. and again absorbed by plants for the synthesis of biofuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all stages of the process, from the growth of plants to the emission of carbon dioxide. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear synthesis of the main features. For instance, the transition from 'preprocessing' to 'cellulose synthesis' and 'sugar production' is described in a way that feels like a list rather than a cohesive summary. While the key stages are identified, the response would benefit from highlighting the cyclical nature of the process more effectively in the overview. The information is accurate, but the development of the stages is slightly simplistic, which prevents it from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the diagram. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Resultantly', 'After that', and 'Consequently' are used to link ideas, although some of these transitions feel slightly forced or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though the final sentence is a bit disjointed due to the punctuation error ('ecosystem. and again'). Overall, the flow is easy to follow, but the use of cohesive devices could be more natural and varied to improve the overall progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'absorption', 'synthesized', 'microorganism', and 'emission' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs like 'made' and 'generated'. The phrase 'The next small microorganism' is slightly awkward in context, as it does not clearly specify the role of the microorganism in the fermentation process. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes and demonstrate a more flexible use of collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'The next small microorganism will be added for consumption of sugars' (which is slightly unnatural) and the punctuation error in the final sentence ('ecosystem. and again'). The use of passive voice is appropriate for a process description, but the control over articles and prepositions is inconsistent at times. The errors present do not impede communication, but they do prevent the writing from being considered highly accurate or sophisticated.

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