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 illustrates the production of biofuel which is called ethanol. This whole process can be divided into following different steps :

First step is the absorption of energy in the form of sunlight and carbon dioxide by the plants from atmosphere. Because this energy is enormously useful for the cultivation of plants. Moving on to the next step, when there is harvesting of these plants such as wheat crop which is pass through 2 to 3 steps to extract the grains.

After extracting the grains, the remaining wheat straw is the source of cellulose (form of carbohydrate). Then it is processed in laboratory to change into simple sugars. These simple sugars are reacted by microbes (for example bacteria) which cause fermentation to extract Ethanol. Moreover, this ethanol is used as a biofuel by the transporting vehicles which in turn released carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from where plants again absorb this energy for their growth. So, actually this is a cyclic process which is necessary to balance our atmosphere.

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 biofuel usage. However, the description is somewhat informal and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. While the key steps are identified, the explanation of the 'harvesting' and 'processing' stages is a bit vague. To reach a higher band, you should provide a more precise summary of the transformation stages (e.g., cellulose to sugar to ethanol) and ensure the distinction between the biological and mechanical phases is clearer. The response is descriptive but lacks the analytical tone required for an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the diagram. You use some cohesive devices such as 'First step', 'Moving on to the next step', and 'Moreover'. However, the paragraphing is weak; the entire response is presented as one block of text, which hinders readability. To improve, you should group related stages into distinct paragraphs—for example, one for the cultivation/harvesting phase and another for the chemical processing and usage phase. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother with more varied linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'absorption', 'cultivation', 'cellulose', 'fermentation', and 'cyclic process'. However, there are some awkward phrasings and word choices, such as 'which is pass through' (should be 'which are passed through') and 'released carbon dioxide' (should be 'releases'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. Focusing on more accurate collocations and avoiding repetitive sentence structures will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'which is pass through' (passive voice error), 'are reacted by microbes' (awkward phrasing), and 'in turn released' (tense inconsistency). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. You should focus on ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing a continuous process.

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

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