Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-19

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 4.0)

SO THE PICTURE BELOW SHOWS HOW THE ETHANOL IS BEEN MADE BY VECHILES AND OTHER WASTES SO THE FIRST STEP IS PLANTING AND GROWING TREES HARVESTING THEM THNE PRE PROCESSING THEM INTO CELLULOSE THEN CHEMICALS WILLL BE MADE THEN SUGAR WILL BE ADDED TO THAT CHEMICAL ELEMENTAND THEN MICROBES WILL BE ADDED TO THIS ELEMENT WHICH WILL BE CALLED ETHANOL AND THEN IT'LL BE USED BY BIG VEHICLES LIKE CAR , BUS , AIRPLANE THEN THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RELEASING THE GAS CALLED CARBON DIOXIDE WHICH WILL BE MIXED IN THE AIR AND WILL HARM THE AIR CONDITION

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 98 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The summary lacks a clear overview of the process, and the description is overly simplistic, failing to highlight the main stages or the cyclical nature of the process effectively. The inclusion of subjective commentary regarding the environmental impact ('will harm the air condition') is irrelevant to the task of describing the provided diagram. To improve, you must provide a structured overview and ensure all stages of the process are described in detail to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The response is written as a single, run-on paragraph without any sentence punctuation or logical paragraphing. The use of cohesive devices is extremely limited, relying almost entirely on the repetitive use of 'and' and 'then' to connect ideas. This creates a mechanical and disjointed flow that makes the text difficult to follow. There is no clear progression of ideas, and the lack of full stops or commas means the reader must struggle to identify where one stage of the process ends and the next begins. Improved punctuation and the use of linking words like 'subsequently' or 'following this' are essential.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.5

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, often relying on imprecise terms such as 'chemical element' or 'big vehicles'. There are several spelling errors, such as 'VECHILES' and 'THNE', which indicate a lack of attention to detail. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a technical process accurately. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific terminology related to industrial processes (e.g., 'fermentation', 'distillation', 'raw materials') and avoid informal or inaccurate phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The grammar is significantly flawed, primarily due to the complete absence of punctuation. The text consists of a single, long run-on sentence. There are frequent errors in verb tense and structure, such as 'ETHANOL IS BEEN MADE' and 'CHEMICALS WILLL BE MADE'. The lack of sentence boundaries makes it impossible to assess your control over complex structures. You must focus on basic sentence construction, including the correct use of capital letters, full stops, and commas, before attempting more complex grammatical forms.

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