Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22
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 given process chart illustrate how ethanol produced as a biofuel.
Overall, the production of ethanol consists seven stages beginning with growing and planting trees and add some chemical reaction and processes ending withuse of ethanol as a fuel for vehicles.
The process starts with cultivation trees and plants. This plant absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide from the environment. Then harvest to the trees using agriculture tools and tractor. After that harvested material enter to the pre-processing unit where trees and plants are converted into small section. After this process diffrenciate to. cellulose and other species. Cellulose is tranport to the processing unit where some chemical and reaction add this section.
Conclude the chemical reaction then produce a sugars and added to microbes that call a ethanol which use to. aeroplane, motorcycles, cars, and trucks. Vehicles release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and Again create the cycle of to biofuel production.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from cultivation to final use. However, the description is somewhat superficial and lacks precision in detailing the technical steps. For instance, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugars' is described vaguely as 'some chemical and reaction add this section,' which misses the key transformation process. While the main features are identified, the overview is slightly inaccurate, stating the process consists of seven stages when the diagram shows a more continuous flow. To improve, focus on clearly describing the sequence of events and the specific inputs and outputs at each stage, ensuring the summary is more accurate and comprehensive.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'After this process diffrenciate to' and 'Conclude the chemical reaction then produce' are grammatically awkward and disrupt the flow of information. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'added to microbes that call a ethanol,' which makes it difficult to follow the logic of the chemical transformation. To achieve a higher band, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences are smooth and logically sound.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and frequently inaccurate. There are several word-choice errors, such as 'diffrenciate' instead of 'differentiate' or 'separated,' and 'call a ethanol' instead of 'called ethanol.' The phrasing is often unnatural, such as 'harvest to the trees' and 'enter to the pre-processing unit.' While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'cultivation,' 'cellulose,' and 'microbes,' the lack of precision and frequent errors in collocation hinder the clarity of the report. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('The given process chart illustrate'), article usage ('the use of ethanol as a fuel'), and sentence structure (e.g., 'This plant absorb sunlight'). Many sentences are fragmented or lack necessary prepositions, such as 'transport to the processing unit' (should be 'transported to'). While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring verbs are correctly conjugated, and paying closer attention to pluralisation and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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