Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 diagram illustrates the process of manufacturing ethanol from natural resources and giving carbon dioxide to nature for producing plants energy.

Overall, the procedure follows a linear multi stage sequence. This begins from growing green vegetation and accumulating with chemical compounds.

To begin with, the first step was growing vast majority of plants and forest which further undergoes in the process of Harvesting. Moving forward, the green vegetation went for pre processing which helps to build cellulose. Subsequently, the cellulose was used in chemical industries to formed a high sugar substance.

Furthermore, the high chemical sugar molecules are attached with multiple Microbes which produces Ethanol. Thus, this ethanol were supplied to transportation industry who uses them in land and air vehicles. Atlast, the gas releases by these automotives which was carbon dioxide that goes back to the nature. Therefore, plants consumes these gas to Produce Energy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the overview is present, the description of the process is somewhat simplistic. The summary of the cycle is generally accurate, but the lack of sufficient length prevents a full development of the information provided in the diagram. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed description of each stage and ensure the response exceeds the minimum length requirement to fully address the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Moving forward' and 'Atlast'. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the stages of the process more fluidly. Overall, the structure is coherent, but the progression could be more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'accumulating with chemical compounds' and 'high chemical sugar molecules', which do not accurately describe the scientific process shown. The term 'automotives' is also used incorrectly in this context. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to industrial processes and avoid awkward collocations. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you describe the diagram more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, including tense inconsistencies (e.g., 'the first step was growing' vs 'plants consumes') and subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'this ethanol were supplied', 'plants consumes these gas'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and spacing. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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