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 shows how a biofuel called ethanol is produced. This whole process starts from the harvesting of plants and trees that contain energy. After processing the plants and trees through harvesting, to make cellulose, we have to pre - process all the plants and trees that we harvest. After making cellulose, it is processed again through big factories and sugar is made. After getting the sugar we add some microbes to it which gives us ethanol . That is the main process of ab biofuel production known as ethanol. This is not the end; after ethanol is made, this is made its is used in cars, trucks, and aeroplanes, and the pollution caused by these vehicles is the main source of having ethanol presence in carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide and sunlight makes the energy again that is absorbed by plants and trees, and the process is repeated again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from harvesting to the final use in vehicles. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. The explanation of the cycle—specifically the relationship between carbon dioxide, sunlight, and plant growth—is a bit vague. To improve, you should focus on clearly identifying the distinct stages (e.g., pre-processing, fermentation, and distribution) and using more precise terminology to describe the transformation of materials. The summary is accurate but could benefit from a more structured overview of the entire cycle as a closed-loop system.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized chronologically, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the paragraphing is non-existent, as the entire response is written as a single block of text. This makes the information feel dense and less professional. While you use some cohesive devices like 'After', 'This is not the end', and 'and', they are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. To improve, you should group related stages into distinct paragraphs—for example, one for the production process and another for the environmental cycle—and use a wider variety of linking words to improve the flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected in an academic report. Phrases like 'big factories' and 'some microbes' are quite informal and imprecise. You rely on basic verbs such as 'made' and 'processed' repeatedly. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'conversion', 'fermentation', 'breakdown', or 'emissions'. Expanding your range to include more sophisticated collocations will help you convey the information with greater authority and clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and compound sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'this is made its is used' and 'the pollution caused by these vehicles is the main source of having ethanol presence in carbon dioxide'. These errors occasionally disrupt the flow of the text. To improve, focus on sentence structure and punctuation. Try to combine ideas more fluidly using relative clauses or participle phrases, and ensure that your subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report.

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