Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The process illustrates how a ethanol produced with several steps of process from beginning, trees and plants observed sunlight and carbon dioxide to with end, again produced carbon dioxide by vehicles.

Overall, the process had several steps from beginning, energy consumed by trees and plants to end with, carbon dioxide again produced by vehicles. In middle of process, sugars made from processing and microbes added in ethanol.

Firstly, plants and trees consumed energy by sunlight and carbon dioxide after that, crops were harvested by farmer after it was went for pre-processed by machine. Beans were filtered by net, after that it was tested in laboratory. After that sugar produced from lab and ready for ethanol.

Microbes added in sugar, after ethanol was ready for use in vehicles. Ethanol used as fuel form in vehicles. When vehicles ran on roads so that time, it produced carbon dioxide again and process again start from beginning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the initial absorption of sunlight and carbon dioxide by plants to the final combustion in vehicles. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in detailing the specific steps shown in the diagram. For instance, the mention of 'beans' is not supported by the typical ethanol production cycle, suggesting a misinterpretation of the visual data. While the overall process is outlined, the lack of clear, accurate detail regarding the transformation stages prevents a higher score. The summary of the cycle is present, but the development of key features is limited.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'after that' is used four times). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'In middle of process'. While there is an attempt to structure the information chronologically, the lack of variety in linking words and the somewhat disjointed nature of the sentences make the progression feel less than smooth.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. Basic terms like 'process', 'produced', and 'trees' are used frequently. There are also inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'observed sunlight' (should be 'absorb') and 'fuel form' (should be 'fuel'). The student attempts to use some technical terms like 'microbes' and 'carbon dioxide', but the overall range is insufficient to demonstrate flexibility or precision. The errors in word choice are noticeable and occasionally make the intended meaning slightly unclear, though the general message remains understandable.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writing relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Common issues include missing articles ('in middle of process'), incorrect verb forms ('how a ethanol produced'), and awkward passive constructions ('crops were harvested by farmer after it was went for pre-processed'). There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the errors in basic grammar, such as subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, are frequent. These errors occasionally impede the flow of reading, though they do not completely obscure the meaning.

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