Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-05
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 given diagram shows that process of producing biofuel called ethanol from plants materials.
overall, ethanol production is a cyclical process that begins with the growth of plants and trees and ends with ethanol begin used as fuel for vehicles. during combustion carbon dioxide is released and reabsorbed by growing plants, completing the cycle.
Initially, plants and trees grow by using energy from sunlight together with carbon dioxide with atmosphere. once they are matured, they are harvested and transported to processing fields where the biomass is converted into cellulose . The cellulose is then processed to produced sugars.
Next microorganisms is added to the sugars to take place in fermentation as the results of biochemicals process, ethanol is produced and then transported to produced biofuel by using carbon dioxide to produc
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 task achievement score. While the student identifies the main features of the ethanol production cycle, the description is incomplete. The final sentence is fragmented and trails off, failing to clearly explain the final stages of the process shown in the diagram. Because the response is under-length and the conclusion is unfinished, the information is not fully developed or reported, leading to a lower band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the general flow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions like 'Initially' and 'Next' are used, but the connection between sentences is occasionally weak. The final paragraph is particularly problematic as it ends abruptly without a proper concluding thought or logical completion of the process, which disrupts the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'biomass', 'cellulose', 'fermentation', and 'biochemicals'. However, there are several errors in word choice and form, such as 'plants materials' instead of 'plant material' and 'ethanol begin used' instead of 'ethanol being used'. These errors, combined with the limited range of vocabulary, prevent the response from reaching a higher band. The repetition of basic verbs also limits the lexical variety.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('microorganisms is added'), incorrect verb forms ('to produced sugars'), and missing articles ('with atmosphere'). While there is an attempt at complex sentence structures, the execution is often flawed. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the lack of a final period and the incomplete structure of the final sentence. These frequent errors indicate a lack of control over complex grammatical structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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