Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 shows biofuel production that how ethanol is made and the recycle of carbon dioxide.

Overall, the process consist of 6 stages starting with planting and harvesting the trees and ending with providing the ethanol to various means of transports and showing how carbon dioxide is recycled throughout the process.

To begin with, planting the trees and letting them grow with the help of sunlight and carbon dioxide, then harvesting the trees for pre-processing following this, cellulose will be produced. In addition, processing of cellulose will be done in the lab, where it is breakdown into sugars.

Furthermore, microbes are added into the sugars by which ethanol is produced. Ethanol subsequently can be used as fuel for cars, trucks, and airplanes. While running, these vehicles creates carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and that carbon dioxide will assist plants to grow using the energy, allowing the cycle to begin again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the biofuel production process, from planting to the final use of ethanol and the recycling of carbon dioxide. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the transition from 'pre-processing' to 'cellulose' and then to 'sugars' is described in a very simplified manner, missing the technical detail expected in an Academic Task 1 report. While the main features are identified, the overview is slightly weak, and the report lacks a more analytical approach to the cyclical nature of the process. To improve, ensure that all stages are described with sufficient clarity and that the relationship between the steps is more explicitly detailed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the diagram. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'To begin with', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. Some sentences, such as the opening sentence, are slightly awkward in their construction ('The diagram shows biofuel production that how ethanol is made'), which impacts the overall cohesion of the introduction.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to describe the process clearly. Words such as 'harvesting', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'recycled' are used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the recycle of carbon dioxide' (should be 'the recycling') and 'these vehicles creates' (subject-verb agreement error). To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more precise terminology and avoid repetitive sentence structures.

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, 'The diagram shows biofuel production that how ethanol is made' is grammatically incorrect. Additionally, there are issues with verb forms and agreement, such as 'these vehicles creates' and 'where it is breakdown into sugars' (should be 'broken down'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they indicate a lack of control over complex structures.

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

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