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 diagram illustrates the process by which ethanol biofuel produced from plant material and hoe carbon dioxide throughout the cycle.
Overall, the ethanol production is a cyclical process that begin with growth of the plant and tress and end the use of ethanol. A key feature is the carbon dioxide release during the production and plan and trees absorbed it.
Initially, plant and trees grow by using energy from sunlight and together with carbon dioxide. Once mature crops are harvested and sent for pre-processing During which some carbon dioxide emitted. After pre-processing the plant is converted in to cellulose. The cellulose transport to the processing facility. After processing stage cellulose is breaking down in to sugars and microbes added in the sugars. After this stage ethanol is ready for use. Ethanol is used for the transport including cars trucks and aircrafts. The ethanol burned the fuel and carbon dioxide is released. The plant and trees use the carbon dioxide. It is a cyclical process.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from plant growth to fuel usage. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the cyclical nature of the process. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the stages is occasionally simplistic. For instance, the transition between 'pre-processing' and 'cellulose' is described in a way that misses some of the technical detail provided in the diagram. To improve, ensure that the relationship between the stages is more clearly articulated and that the summary highlights the key inputs and outputs more effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'After this stage' and 'After processing stage' are used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit stilted. There is a need for a wider variety of linking words and better referencing to connect the ideas more fluidly. While the progression is generally logical, the lack of sophisticated transitions prevents the response from achieving a higher band score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'hoe carbon dioxide' (likely a typo for 'how') and 'the ethanol burned the fuel'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying heavily on the words provided in the prompt. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise technical terminology related to industrial processes and use a broader range of synonyms to describe the stages of the cycle, rather than repeating the same verbs.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include missing articles ('the ethanol production', 'use of ethanol'), subject-verb agreement issues ('ethanol biofuel produced', 'plant and trees absorbed'), and incorrect verb forms ('cellulose transport to', 'cellulose is breaking down'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and sentence boundaries. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors limits the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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