Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-09
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 diagramatic illustration provides the information regarding the production of biofuel which is also called the ethanol.
At the first glance it is evident that, firstly the production of biofuel needs plants and tress to grow which requires energy in form of sunlight and carbon dioxide. Second step is of harvesting. These tress and plants are harvested through a tractor and are pre processed with the help of machines. After this process cellulose is produced
Moving towards the rest of information, the noteworthy point is processing the cellulose that i mentioned above into molecules of sugar. In addition to this, microbes are added into the molecules of sugar and finally the ethanol has produced. Moreover, above produced ethanol fuel has many benefits. For instance, this fuel is used in transportation in cars, trucks, areoplanes et cetera. Carbondioxide released by these vehicles are used by plants and tress that mentioned above.
Overall, the production of ethanol fuel has cyclic, multiple steps which are joined together with the loop of carbon dioxide.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 plant growth to the final fuel usage. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the cyclic nature of the process in the introduction. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the chemical transformation (cellulose to sugar) is brief. To reach a higher band, you should focus on providing a more detailed summary of the technical stages and ensure that the relationship between the steps is described with greater precision, rather than just listing them sequentially.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moving towards', 'In addition to', and 'For instance' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking phrases. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall progression could be smoother to ensure that the relationship between the stages is more explicitly connected.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'biofuel'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'diagramatic illustration' (redundant) and 'the ethanol has produced' (incorrect passive voice). There is also a tendency to repeat basic verbs. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes and avoid repetitive phrasing. Spelling is generally accurate, but the word choice lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, particularly with article usage ('the ethanol', 'the production of biofuel') and verb tense/voice ('the ethanol has produced' instead of 'ethanol is produced'). There are also minor punctuation and spelling errors, such as 'tress' instead of 'trees' and 'areoplanes'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on mastering passive voice constructions, which are essential for process descriptions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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