Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-10
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 how biofuel known as ethanol is produced.
Overall, the process consist of several different methods, initially starts with growth of plants and trees absorbing energy and ends with formation of ethanol. The carbon produced recycled into atmosphere and used as form of energy by plants and trees.
At the beginning, plants and trees absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide for growth. Once they have matured, they are harvested and sent for pre-processing. The resulted material is converted into cellulose, which undergoes further processing to produce sugar.
Next, microbe are added to the sugar, resulting in the the production of ethanol. Then ethanol is used as fuel for different vehicle like cars, trucks ,aircraft. The use of ethanol release carbon dioxide which return to cycle and absorb by plants and trees for growth.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from plant growth to fuel usage. However, the response is 16 words under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the score. While the main features are identified, the description lacks the level of detail and analytical depth required for a higher band. The cycle is described, but the comparisons and the integration of the stages could be more fully developed to ensure a comprehensive summary of the provided diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from the initial growth phase to the final usage. Cohesive devices such as 'At the beginning', 'Once', 'Next', and 'Then' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall progression could be smoother if the relationship between the stages were more explicitly linked using a wider variety of cohesive markers.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'harvested', 'cellulose', and 'microbe'. However, there are several instances of inaccurate word choice and minor errors, such as 'The resulted material' (should be 'The resulting material') and 'recycled into atmosphere' (missing article). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary and ensure correct collocations throughout the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur frequently, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('process consist', 'microbe are added') and missing articles ('into atmosphere', 'used as form of energy'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. A greater focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and sentence structure variety is necessary.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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