Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-13

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 drawing illustrate production of Ethanol is one of the biofuels.

Overall, this picture shows us the carbon dioxide which is used for creating ethanol is released back into environment from vehicles which uses ethanol as a biofuel for running transportion.

The energy sources such as sunlight and carbon dioxide combinely used for growing plants . Thse grown trees grows very big and are harvested,After cut down of trees pre processing of plants leads to formation of cellulose.In turn this cellulose is converted into sugars.As sugars combine with microbes to form Ethanol.

Futhermore so formed Ethanol is utilised in transportion purpose like airway,waterway and roadway etc.As the this vehicles run by using ethanol they directly release carbon dioxide into the environment. so far this carbon dioxide which comes out of the car and aeroplanes etc mixes with the nature from where they came.

So, this is called as cycle of carbon dioxide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from plant growth to consumption and carbon release. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. While the main features are identified, the report reads more like a narrative of the steps rather than a structured summary of the process. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the cyclical nature of the process more clearly. To improve, ensure that the relationship between the stages is described with more precision, focusing on the transformation of materials rather than just listing the steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into three short paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'As' and 'so'. The progression of ideas is clear, but the transitions between sentences feel somewhat disjointed. For instance, the jump from 'cellulose is converted into sugars' to 'sugars combine with microbes' lacks a smooth linking phrase. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that sentences flow more naturally into one another would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'combinely used' and 'transportion purpose'. Additionally, there are some spelling errors, such as 'Thse' and 'Futhermore'. The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'big' and 'run'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'emissions', and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'The drawing illustrate' (subject-verb agreement), 'vehicles which uses' (subject-verb agreement), and 'As the this vehicles run' (incorrect determiner usage). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and proofreading for punctuation would help improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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