Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
The above diagram sheds light on the process of production of a biofuel known as Ethanol.
Firstly, The process of carbon dioxide is shown which releases in atmosphere through cars, airplanes and other vehicles.Then, these carbon dioxide particles combines with air. The sunlight mixes with carbon dioxide already present in environment. This combination creates an energy which is crucial for the development of plants and trees.The plants and trees are then harvested through trucks, brought in industry and passed through a pre-processing machine which gives an important ingredient cellulose. The cellulose is then further processed to achieve sugar which is then mixed with Microbes. Finally, The ethanol is obtained.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the task. While the student identifies the main stages of the ethanol production process, the summary is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to be considered a comprehensive report. Key features, such as the cyclical nature of the process or the specific inputs and outputs, are mentioned but not adequately described or compared. Because the response is 41 words short, it cannot be considered a fully developed summary of the provided diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into two short paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly' and 'Finally', the transitions between the environmental cycle and the industrial processing are abrupt. The paragraphing is insufficient, and the overall structure feels disjointed. The lack of length prevents the development of a more sophisticated flow of information, leading to a mechanical and repetitive style of linking ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. The student relies on simple terms like 'process', 'mixes', and 'creates'. There is little attempt to use academic or technical vocabulary appropriate for a process description (e.g., 'fermentation', 'conversion', 'by-product'). Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'The process of carbon dioxide is shown', which is grammatically and semantically awkward. To improve, the student needs to incorporate more precise terminology related to industrial processes and chemical reactions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, including issues with article usage ('in atmosphere', 'in environment') and subject-verb agreement ('carbon dioxide particles combines'). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited use of complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing after commas and capitalization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors and the lack of structural variety limit the score. More attention to basic grammar rules and sentence combining techniques is required.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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