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 how a specific biofuel named ethanol is generated.
Overall, it is clear that there are many process needed to make ethanol. By using this biofuel, vehicles emits carbon-dioxide into atmosphere which trees use for their breeding.
At the very beginning, a tractor harvests the raw material from plants and trees, then this material goes through a pre-processing machine where this machine creates cellulose from solid trees. After this process, the cellulose runs through a chemical processing and it provides sugars. In the last stage, microbes are added with sugars, as a result, Ethanol is finally created. Ethanol works as a fuel for different types of vehicles and transportations such as aircrafts, trucks and cars. Those automobile and airplanes emit a huge amount of Carbon-Dioxide in the environment. Trees and other plants use the energy of sunlight and carbon-dioxide for their growth. After enough growth, those trees and plants again use for making ethanol and this process 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 harvesting to the final use as fuel. However, the overview is slightly weak; it focuses more on the environmental impact rather than summarizing the key technical stages of the cycle. While the task is addressed, the description of the process is somewhat simplistic. For instance, the transition from 'chemical processing' to 'sugars' is a bit vague. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the cyclical nature of the process more clearly and provides a more precise summary of the transformation stages shown in the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The progression of ideas follows the sequence of the diagram effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'At the very beginning', 'After this process', and 'In the last stage' are used to guide the reader through the steps. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the environmental impact section more naturally to the production process.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the process clearly. Words like 'harvests', 'cellulose', and 'microbes' are used correctly in context. However, there are some inaccuracies and repetitive phrasing, such as 'trees and plants' being used multiple times. The phrase 'vehicles emits' contains a subject-verb agreement error, and 'transportations' is an uncountable noun used incorrectly as a plural. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise scientific terminology and avoiding basic errors in word form and collocation.
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 that persist throughout the text. For example, 'vehicles emits' (subject-verb agreement), 'added with sugars' (preposition error), and 'those trees and plants again use for making' (passive voice needed). Punctuation is generally fine, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate higher control. The majority of sentences are understandable, but the frequency of minor errors prevents a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.