Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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 chart depicts whole information about the production of a biofuel called ethanol

Overall, it is evident the the process of ethanol manufacturing starts with the farming of plants and trees and this process comes on end

Initially, in a farm different kinds of plants and trees are cultivated which consume sunlight and carbon dioxide throughout their lifespan. following cultivation harvesting of these plants takes place which is done mechanically with the help of tractors and in next step crop is sent for pre- processing where it goes through cellulose process and and full fleged process in a factory.

Furthermore, sugar is added to the cells with the addition of microbes that helps to produce ethanol. Finally, ethanol is produced other than this carbon dioxide is also emitted by different vehicles such as from cars, trucks, airplnes further this carbon emission helps all this process.

AI examiner evaluation

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 somewhat superficial. The overview is underdeveloped, and the explanation of the final stage is confusing, particularly the claim that carbon emission 'helps all this process,' which misinterprets the diagram. To improve, ensure all steps are described with greater clarity and precision, and provide a more comprehensive summary of the overall process flow to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical or disjointed. Transitions such as 'Initially' and 'Furthermore' are used, but the connection between sentences is sometimes weak, particularly in the final paragraph where the logic becomes unclear. The referencing is occasionally confusing, such as the vague use of 'this process' and 'all this process.' Improving the use of cohesive devices and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, logical focus would enhance the overall readability and structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'full fleged process' and 'comes on end.' The use of vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, and there are minor spelling errors (e.g., 'airplnes'). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more specific terminology related to industrial processes and ensure that your word choices are accurate and contextually appropriate throughout the entire response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include missing articles ('in a farm'), punctuation errors, and awkward phrasing ('the the process'). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and sentence structure will be essential for improvement.

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

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