Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-04
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 5.0)
The diagram illustrates the whole process of forming ethanol from start to the final stage. At first plants and trees are grown in good environment where sunlight, water and carbon dioxide is provided them. After the plants and trees are full grown. Harvesting of these matured trees and plants started. The collected plants after pre-processing converted into cellulose. Cellulose is the special type of sugar. Cellulose is further processed in lab where the microbes are added with it to finally formed the ethanol. The ethanol have many uses. It is mix with gasoline to used in petrol vehicles to run cars well and lowers air-pollution. It is used in hand sanitizers and medical wipes. It is also use in making perfumes, lotions and cough syrups while dissolving their ingredients. Ethanol is also used as an active antioxidant in beer, wine and liquor. In result carbon dioxide is released from many of them used by plants and trees.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the process, from plant growth to the final application of ethanol. However, the description of the process is somewhat superficial. For instance, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'ethanol' is described as being 'processed in lab where the microbes are added', which lacks the technical detail expected in an Academic Task 1 response. Furthermore, the inclusion of information about the uses of ethanol (e.g., in perfumes or cough syrups) is not present in the provided diagram and constitutes external knowledge, which should be avoided. To improve, focus strictly on the information provided in the visual prompt and describe the stages with greater precision.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organised into a single paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of the process. While there is a logical sequence from start to finish, the lack of paragraphing and the limited use of cohesive devices make the text feel somewhat disjointed. Transitions between sentences are often repetitive, relying heavily on simple structures like 'Cellulose is...'. To achieve a higher band, you should group related stages into distinct paragraphs (e.g., one for production and one for application) and use a wider variety of linking words such as 'subsequently', 'following this', or 'as a result of this process'.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher score. You use basic terms like 'good environment' and 'run cars well', which are too informal for an academic report. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'forming ethanol' instead of 'producing ethanol' or 'ethanol have many uses' (grammatical error). To improve, try to incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'by-product', and ensure that your word choices are consistently formal and academic in tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'carbon dioxide is provided them' should be 'is provided to them', and 'It is mix with gasoline to used' should be 'It is mixed with gasoline to be used'. There is a reliance on simple sentence structures, and the attempt at complex sentences often results in errors, such as 'In result carbon dioxide is released from many of them used by plants and trees'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice, which is essential for describing processes. Ensure that your verb forms are consistent throughout the report.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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