Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram illustrate that the process of producing the biofuel of ethanol from plants and trees and how carbon dioxide the recycle the throwout the process.

overall, The process passes through the many savral stages. beginnings with growth the plants and ended with the use in the many vehicals. also show that the carbon dioxide release in the air also this cycle continue in the first stage.

Firstly, the plants and trees grow with help of sunlights and carbon dioxide. after the grown the plants are cut and harvested with help of farmars. The plants are put in the pre processing in the machines. and it is cut in the particalles. the particales are become a cellulose.

Secondly, the cellulose are processed in the leboratory and make a sugers. after making the sugers the microbes are added in the sugars. make a ethenoles. ethenoles are used in many vihicals like cars , truks , plans. they relaeas the carbon dioxide. carbon dioxide is mixed to the air. recyle the again the cycle

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response identifies the main stages of the ethanol production process, covering the growth of plants, harvesting, processing, and final use. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the cycle. While the key features are present, the explanation of the carbon dioxide cycle is slightly confused, and the connection between the stages could be more clearly articulated. The response meets the basic requirements of the task but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or inaccurate (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'after the grown'). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of varied linking words. Paragraphing is present but the internal structure of the paragraphs feels disjointed, making the progression of ideas feel somewhat mechanical rather than fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and contains several spelling errors (e.g., 'savral', 'vehicals', 'truks', 'ethenoles', 'leboratory'). The range of vocabulary is basic and often repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'plants' and 'sugars'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise terminology related to industrial processes. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequent errors and restricted range of vocabulary prevent the response from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Issues include incorrect verb forms ('The diagram illustrate'), missing articles ('in the air'), and awkward sentence construction ('carbon dioxide the recycle the throwout the process'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences and incorrect capitalization. While the meaning is usually clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence structure significantly impacts the overall quality of the writing.

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

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