Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14
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 illustrates how biofuel also known as "ethanol" is produced.
The process of ethonal begins, when plant and trees are planted and they grow with the help of sunlight and carbon-dioxide. When they are grown they get harvested using heavy machinery for example, a tractor. However, after harvesting it gets grinded into smaller particles and it becomes cellulose.
Moreover, chemicals are used on them and after this process it turns into sugars. When it turns to sugars, only one other process is left which is adding microbes. After adding microbes in sugar we get our result "ethanol". That ethanol is used as a fuel in cars, aeroplanes and trailors. We get carbon dioxide from these vechicales and that carbon and sunlight is used to grow plants again.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description of the process. While the main stages of the ethanol production cycle are identified, the summary lacks the necessary detail and depth required for a high score. The explanation of the chemical and microbial stages is overly simplistic, and the response does not effectively highlight the cyclical nature of the process as clearly as it could. To improve, you must expand on the specific inputs and outputs at each stage and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive overview of the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a logical sequence, following the stages of the diagram from planting to fuel usage. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is presented as a single block of text, which hinders readability. While some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'However' are used, the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the production process and the final usage of the fuel could be smoother. To improve, use clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction from the process description and ensure that cohesive devices are used to link ideas more naturally rather than just listing steps.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and lacks the precision expected in an academic report. For instance, the use of 'get' ('get harvested', 'get grinded', 'get our result') is informal and repetitive. There are also spelling errors such as 'ethonal' and 'vechicales', which detract from the professional tone. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise verbs and technical terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'processed', 'converted', or 'facilitated', and ensure careful proofreading to eliminate basic spelling mistakes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the accuracy of the writing. Examples include 'plant and trees are planted' (subject-verb agreement), 'it gets grinded' (incorrect passive voice formation), and 'When they are grown they get harvested' (missing comma). The use of articles and pluralization is also inconsistent. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering the passive voice, which is essential for process descriptions, and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and punctuation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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