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 diagrammatic presentation illustrates the procedure of production of ethanol, a kind of biofuel.
The procedure commences when the considerable amount of carbon dioxide is discharged by the fuel used by different vehicles. For instance, petrol, diesel used by the cars and trucks. In the next step, the carbon dioxide when combines with the sunlight acts as a source of energy which is required for the growth of plants and trees. After the adequate growth of plants, the process of harvesting is conducted.
Moving further, after harvesting, pre-processing of plants takes place which releases a substance named as cellulose. Then, the cellulose under-go processing in a science laboratory with the help of numerous chemicals. Further, after completing the processing, sugar is produced in which microbes are added which results in the production of a biofuel namely ethanol.
Overall, all the steps are important and interlinked with each other. Omission of even a single step would halt the whole procedure.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from carbon dioxide emission to the final biofuel product. However, the description is somewhat superficial. The task requires a clear summary of the process, but the student focuses heavily on the narrative of the cycle rather than highlighting the key technical stages shown in the diagram. For instance, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugar' is described as occurring in a 'science laboratory' with 'numerous chemicals', which is a vague interpretation of the diagram's technical steps. To reach a higher band, the response should provide more precise detail regarding the specific inputs and outputs at each stage, such as the role of fermentation or specific conversion processes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the body of the process, and the concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Moving further', 'In the next step', and 'Overall' are used to guide the reader through the text. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the concluding paragraph is somewhat generic, adding little to the overall summary of the information presented. The progression of ideas is clear, but the flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the stages of the cycle more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'biofuel', 'cellulose', 'harvesting', and 'microbes' used correctly. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices. For example, 'diagrammatic presentation' is slightly unnatural; 'The diagram illustrates' would be more standard. The phrase 'considerable amount of carbon dioxide' is acceptable, but 'under-go processing' is a minor error (should be 'undergo'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score, relying on somewhat repetitive sentence structures and basic descriptive language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly affect the flow, such as 'the carbon dioxide when combines with the sunlight' (should be 'when combined with' or 'combines with'), and 'a substance named as cellulose' (should be 'named cellulose'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage, such as 'the process of harvesting' where 'the' is unnecessary. While these errors do not impede communication, they demonstrate a lack of full control over complex structures. The majority of the sentences are understandable, but the grammatical accuracy is inconsistent.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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