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 pictorial illustrate the production of a biofuel called ethanol in the environment.

Overall, It has 8 steps to produce ethanol,starting with the plants and ending with the usage of ethanol in various types of vehicles.It is a circular process because carbon dioxide released from vehicles goes into the air again. Furthermore, it is consumed by plants and trees.

Initially, plants and trees absorb the energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide.After that, fully grown plants are harvested and they are carried out by a truck.Hereafter, the plants are put into the machine for pre-processing and cellulose is produced. In the next stage, this cellulose are processed and converted into the sugar from.In addition , microbes are added to this from to build the final fuel that is ethanol.Now, this ethanol fuel is pored into the vehicles, it helps them run over the road. Also it is used in aeroplane to make them fly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the ethanol production process and provided a clear overview. You correctly noted the circular nature of the process, which is a key observation. However, the response lacks some precision in describing the technical stages. For instance, 'cellulose is produced' and 'converted into the sugar from' are vague and slightly inaccurate descriptions of the chemical transformation shown in the diagram. To improve, ensure you clearly label the specific inputs and outputs at each stage, such as mentioning the fermentation process or the specific conversion of cellulose to sugar, rather than using generic phrasing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After that', and 'In addition' to guide the reader through the steps. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, as the body paragraph is quite dense. Additionally, some transitions feel a bit mechanical. To improve, try to group the stages more effectively—perhaps by separating the agricultural phase from the industrial processing phase—and ensure that your referencing (e.g., 'this from') is clearer to avoid confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'biofuel', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'pictorial illustrate' (should be 'diagram illustrates'), 'sugar from' (likely meant 'sugar form'), and 'pored into' (should be 'poured'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit your score. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise technical terminology and ensuring correct collocations when describing industrial processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'this cellulose are processed' and 'the pictorial illustrate', as well as punctuation errors such as missing spaces after commas (e.g., 'In addition ,'). While these errors rarely prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency of the writing. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and punctuation would significantly improve your accuracy.

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