Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12
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 diagram depicts the process of ethanol production.
Overall, it is man-made process and linear in nature. Four major steps are required to produce ethanol. It starts with harvesting plants and trees and ends with processing microbes. Ethanol uses in airplane, heavy vehicles and cars.
To begin with, plants and trees require energy in form of sunlight and co2. These plants and trees are harvested. It goes for pre-processing, where cellulose is made. After that cellulose is processed in laboratory. Sugars mode molecules are released during processing. Next step is addition of microbes. After microbes are added to sugars molecules, ethanol is made.
Ethanol is known as biofuel because it produces from plants and trees. Ethanol is used for as fuel for airplane, trucks and cars. These vehicles released co2 in the environment, which consume by trees and plants as a source of energy.And again trees are cut for ethanol production.
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 the harvesting of plants to the final use of the fuel. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks detail in explaining the technical transitions, such as the conversion of cellulose into sugars. While the overview is present, it is quite basic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on describing the process more precisely, ensuring that the relationship between the stages is clearly explained rather than just listed. The inclusion of the environmental cycle (CO2 absorption) is a good observation, but ensure the focus remains primarily on the production process as requested by the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the production steps, and a concluding paragraph regarding the cycle. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'After that', 'Next step', 'After'). The flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better referencing to connect the stages of the diagram more fluidly. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion within the paragraphs needs more sophistication.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You rely on simple terms like 'made', 'added', and 'process'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'Sugars mode molecules' (likely a typo for 'sugar molecules') and 'it produces from' (should be 'it is produced from'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'conversion', 'breakdown', 'fermentation', or 'yield'. Expanding your range of verbs and nouns will help you achieve a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that, while they do not impede communication, are noticeable. Examples include 'it is man-made process' (missing article), 'Ethanol uses in airplane' (incorrect passive voice), and 'which consume by trees' (incorrect passive voice). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering the passive voice, which is essential for describing processes, and pay closer attention to articles and prepositions.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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