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 diagram illustrates the stages involved in manufacturing a biofuel called ethanol.
Overall, the process consists of 8 stages, it begins with harvesting the grown plants and ends with the ethanol being produced after several processing steps.
Initially, plants and trees are grown using the different source of energies which is sunlight and carbon dioxide. Then these grown trees and plants are harvested in the next stage. The harvested trees and plants then undergoes pre-processing which leads to the extraction of cellulose from it. In the fifth stage cellulose is processed using different chemicals in the laboratory to convert it into a sugar molecule.
Finally, the microbes are added into the extracted sugar molecules to produce ethanol. This ethanol work as a feul for many automobiles, trucks and aircrafts which uses it and release carbon dioxide in the environment. Resultantly, this carbon dioxide is used by plants to grow and the cycle continues.
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 the growth of plants to the final use of the fuel. However, the description is somewhat superficial. While you mention the eight stages, you do not clearly distinguish between the pre-processing and the chemical conversion stages in a way that highlights the technical progression. Additionally, the final part of the diagram—the cycle of carbon dioxide being reabsorbed by plants—is described, but the connection between the production of ethanol and the environmental cycle could be more clearly integrated as a 'main feature' of the process. To improve, ensure that each stage is described with enough detail to show a clear understanding of the flow.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of the process. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Then', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced; the second paragraph is quite long and could have been split to better separate the growth/harvesting phase from the chemical processing phase. Furthermore, some transitions are a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your cohesive devices and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, which will improve the overall flow and readability of your report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'manufacturing', 'extraction', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'different source of energies' should be 'different sources of energy', and 'this ethanol work as a feul' contains a spelling error ('fuel') and a subject-verb agreement error. The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Focusing on accurate collocations and avoiding basic spelling errors will help improve your score in this area.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'these grown trees and plants then undergoes' should be 'undergo' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, 'which uses it and release' should be 'which use it and release' to match the plural antecedent 'automobiles, trucks and aircrafts'. There are also minor punctuation and article usage issues throughout. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed with grammatical precision.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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