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 process diagram illustrates the process of ethanol production and life cycle of carbon dioxide in this process. The procedure consist of almost 9 stages, from transformation carbon dioxide into plants in the form of energy and end up by burning fule and releasing carbon dioxide back in the atmosphere.
In first step sunlight and carbondioxide is consumed by plants in the form of energy, which helps them to grow. Once the plants are grown they are harvested and then go through the pre processing sage. After this it is transformed in the form of cellulose.
These cellulose are then processed in industry and produce sugars. Microbes are added in these sugars to produce ethanol, which is then used in cars, aeroplanes and large vehicles and ended up by releasing carbondioxide back into the atmosphere.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the main stages of the process are identified, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully cover all parts of the task. For instance, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugars' and the specific role of 'microbes' are mentioned but not elaborated upon. The summary lacks a clear overview of the cyclical nature of the process, and the under-length nature of the essay prevents a more comprehensive development of the key features shown in the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into three short paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'In first step', 'After this', and 'These cellulose', the flow is occasionally disrupted by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the use of 'These cellulose' (which is a mass noun and should not be pluralised). Overall, the organisation is logical but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are some spelling errors, such as 'fule' instead of 'fuel' and 'carbondioxide' (which should be two words). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on simple terms like 'produce', 'grown', and 'transformed'. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'raw materials'. The repetition of basic verbs limits the lexical variety.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors that occasionally hinder the reader. Examples include 'The procedure consist of' (subject-verb agreement error), 'transformation carbon dioxide' (missing preposition), and 'ended up by releasing' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally functional, but the grammatical control is inconsistent. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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