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 manufacturing process of ethanol which is also called biofuel because the carbon oxide produced from vehicles recycled back as a raw material.
Overall, ethanol is produced from the plants and trees in a sequential steps to form a fuel for transport.
Furthermore, Plants and trees grow and synthesized by photosynthesis using energy, sunlight and carbon dioxide. After plants grow well , they are cut, harvested and then shifted to the production units where the preprocessing process is started in which different parts are sorted out for the formation of cellulose. In next stage, processing is began in a special processing unit of the mill. Following this, processed material is converted to the sugar. In last stage, specific microbes are added to the produced sugar for fermentation which finally produce ethanol as final output. This ethanol is used in the daily transport from cars to aeroplane. This fuel causes carbon dioxide emission which shift back to an atomsphere for plant regrowth.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of plants to the final use of the fuel. However, the summary is somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. While you identify the key stages, the connection between the carbon cycle and the production process is slightly over-simplified. To improve, ensure you clearly highlight the cyclical nature of the process as a key feature in the overview. The description of the stages is generally accurate, but some technical details, such as the specific conversion of cellulose to sugar, could be more precisely linked to the diagram's flow to ensure a more comprehensive report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a logical sequence, following the steps shown in the diagram. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'After', 'Following this', and 'In last stage'. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is presented as one block of text, which hinders the visual clarity expected in an academic report. Additionally, some transitions feel a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure you use clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction/overview from the body paragraphs and vary your cohesive devices to improve the flow between sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'manufacturing process', 'photosynthesis', 'cellulose', and 'fermentation'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'synthesized by photosynthesis' (photosynthesis is a process, not a substance) and 'shift back to an atomsphere' (should be 'atmosphere'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Focusing on more accurate collocations and avoiding minor spelling errors will help improve your score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'carbon oxide produced from vehicles recycled back' (missing verb 'is') and 'processing is began' (incorrect passive voice). Additionally, there are issues with article usage, such as 'in a sequential steps' (should be 'in sequential steps') and 'to an atomsphere'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency. Increasing the number of error-free sentences and refining your control over passive voice would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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