Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-21
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 depicts information about the stages involved in the production of biofuel known ethanol
Overall, it is clear that the process consists of several stages, beginning with plantation of trees and concluding with emission of carbon dioxide, after which the process is repeated.
The process begins with when plant and tress are grown, while trees absorb carbon dioxide and sunlight in the form of energy. After that, plants are harvested and collected. Plant materials send in pre-processing stage, in initial step, electronic instrument is utilized for extraction of cellulose from plant material.
Once this is done, cellulose transfer into the processing stage. Once completed, the cellulose coverts in sugar. Then, microbes are added in sugar, at the same time ethanol is produced. Finally, the ethanol is used in transportation vehicle such as, cars, trucks and airplanes. Meanwhile, get rid of carbon dioxide in the air. After, the sequence is begun again.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of plants to the final usage and carbon dioxide emission. However, the description of the process is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the cyclical nature of the process. While the key features are identified, the explanation of the 'pre-processing' and 'processing' stages is slightly underdeveloped, and the connection between the stages could be more clearly articulated to show a deeper understanding of the diagram. The response meets the basic requirements but lacks the sophisticated reporting expected at higher bands.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Cohesive devices such as 'Once this is done', 'After that', and 'Meanwhile' are used to link the stages. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'Plant materials send in pre-processing stage', which lacks a proper passive construction. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the final stage and the start of the cycle could be smoother. Overall, the progression is logical, but the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward word choice and grammatical collocation errors, such as 'plantation of trees' (should be 'planting') and 'electronic instrument is utilized' (which is imprecise for a mechanical process). The phrasing 'get rid of carbon dioxide' is too informal for an academic report. While the student successfully uses technical terms like 'cellulose' and 'microbes', the overall range is limited, and the errors in word choice occasionally detract from the professional tone required for an Academic Task 1 response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. For example, 'Plant materials send in pre-processing stage' is missing a verb and preposition, and 'cellulose coverts in sugar' contains a spelling error and incorrect preposition. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'the sequence is begun again'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. More attention to verb forms and sentence structure is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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