Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-08
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 about the process of production of ethanol.
Overall, the process involves several stages by which the energy is used and after harvest is passed through manufacturing stages for the production of biofuel.
In the initial stage of the process, sun light and carbon dioxide which are the main sources of energy are utilized by plants and tress during the process of photosynthesis for the synthesis of their food which is used by plants for their growth. After a certain period of time the plants are harvested and are passed to the next step which is reprocessing stage. During this stage the raw material is processed and cellulose is produced which is further processed and changed to sugars. The sugars are then processed with microbes and ethanol is produced which is a biuofuel that is used by different kind of vehicles and carbon dioxide is produced by the burning of fuel which is returned back to the atmosphere and the process continues.
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 photosynthesis to fuel usage. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, structured overview of the cycle. While the key stages are identified, the response would benefit from a more analytical approach, such as grouping the stages into logical phases (e.g., cultivation, processing, and consumption). The inclusion of 'sun light' and 'carbon dioxide' as part of the process is accurate, but the explanation of the transition from cellulose to sugar is a bit vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the stages is clearly highlighted rather than just listing them sequentially.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is coherent and follows a logical sequence, moving from the initial energy source to the final product and its use. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is written as one block of text, which hinders readability. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In the initial stage', 'After a certain period of time', and 'The sugars are then', but these are somewhat mechanical. To improve, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect ideas more fluidly and divide the text into at least two or three paragraphs to separate the introduction/overview from the detailed process steps.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'photosynthesis', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'synthesis' demonstrating a reasonable range. However, there are some inaccuracies and spelling errors, such as 'tress' instead of 'trees' and 'biuofuel' instead of 'biofuel'. The phrase 'illustrates about' is also grammatically incorrect; 'illustrates' should be followed directly by the object. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score. Focusing on accurate spelling and more natural collocations will help improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical issues, such as the redundant 'about' after 'illustrates' and the awkward phrasing in 'the process of production of ethanol'. Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article usage errors throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and reducing wordiness. Incorporating more varied complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or passive voice more effectively, would also enhance the grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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