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 how biofuel called ethanol is made.
Overall, it is evident that the process consists eight stages, beginning with planting and growing trees and ending with adding microbes.
To begin with, the first stage involves planting and growing plants with energy resources like sunlight and carbon dioxide. Initially, trees are collected with the help of machines, after which it is processed through machines, called pre-processing step. In the end, cellulose is made in the forth stage.
In the following stages, cellulose is processed with chemicals which turns it into sugar particles. Additionally, sugars goes into further changes, where microbes are eventually added in sugar, until the final products is produced.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While the student identifies the main stages of the ethanol production process, the description is overly brief and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary. Several key steps are mentioned only in passing, and the comparison of stages is underdeveloped. To improve, the student must expand on the specific inputs and outputs at each stage of the diagram to ensure all parts of the task are addressed thoroughly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into short paragraphs, which helps with the overall structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with' and 'In the following stages', the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'after which it is processed', where the pronoun 'it' does not clearly refer to a specific noun. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring clear pronoun reference would enhance the logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. The student uses general terms like 'things' or 'machines' rather than more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'forth stage' (should be 'fourth') and 'sugars goes' (subject-verb agreement error). To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to manufacturing or chemical processes, such as 'fermentation', 'distillation', or 'raw materials'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('sugars goes', 'products is produced') and spelling errors ('forth' instead of 'fourth'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and spelling would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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