Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23

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 that how ethanol, which is a type of biofuel is produced.

Overall, it is evident that the process consists of several stages beginning with growth of plants and ending with the production of ethanol which is used as a fuel in vehicles.

Initially, plants and tress receive energy from sun and carbon dioxide which helps them to grow. After this, plants are harvested by farmer by using a tractor. The harvested plants fed into a pre-processing machinery and convert trees into small pieces. Theses small pieces are processed to produce cellulose.

Following this, cellulose then fed into processing machinery where it is treated with various chemicals and sugar produced after the whole method. Next, microbes are added into sugars. Finally, ethanol is produced with a help of combination of sugar and added microbes. The ethanol is used in different vehicles for a fuel such as airplanes, cars and trucks. Theses vehicles release carbon dioxide that dissolves in air, allowing process to repeat again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from plant growth to the final use in vehicles. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the cycle. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the chemical conversion process is slightly simplistic. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the stages is more clearly articulated and that the 'main features' are highlighted with more precision rather than just listing the steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, moving from the initial growth phase to the final consumption and recycling of carbon dioxide. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After this', 'Following this', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions feel a bit repetitive or mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by varying the structure of the linking phrases to create a more natural progression of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, covering the necessary technical terms like 'biofuel', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'receive energy from sun' (should be 'the sun') and 'with a help of' (should be 'with the help of'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs like 'produced' and 'used'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'emissions'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('from sun', 'by farmer') and subject-verb agreement ('cellulose then fed', 'Theses small pieces'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and spelling issues, such as 'Theses' instead of 'These'. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on article usage and ensuring verbs are correctly conjugated in passive voice constructions would significantly enhance the accuracy.

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

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