Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-27
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 chart illustrates the production of biofuel called ethanol.
Overall, the plants and trees absorb an energy include sunlight and carbon dioxide, then after harvesting, the process will start with product and an ethanol will form. The ethanol is used in vehicles and emits the carbon dioxide and the process repeat.
The plants and trees will grow with the energy then the harvest process will happen for harvesting. In the pre-processing, the plants and trees will cut into a small piece and form a cellulose. The main process will start in a lab, where the cellulose converted into the sugars.
Continuing of the process, the sugars are mixed with microbes to make the ethanol. The ethanol is used in motors such as a plane, a truck and a car. These vehicles produce the carbon dioxide, then the new trees and plants will absorb the carbon dioxide from air, the process will repeat.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 the absorption of energy by plants to the final emission of carbon dioxide. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the cycle. While the key features are identified, the explanation of the 'pre-processing' and 'main process' stages is slightly simplistic. To improve, you should focus on grouping the stages more logically and ensuring that the relationship between the steps is described with more precision, rather than just listing them sequentially. The summary of the cycle is present, but it could be more effectively integrated to highlight the cyclical nature of the process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'The plants and trees will...' and 'Continuing of the process...' are used to link sentences, but they lack variety. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the transitions between the stages could be smoother. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'the process will start with product', which is vague. Improving the range of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on general terms like 'product', 'small piece', and 'motors' rather than more precise technical terminology suitable for a process description. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'absorb an energy include sunlight'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more specific vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'raw materials'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated or topic-specific lexical items limits the score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Issues include incorrect article usage ('an ethanol', 'the carbon dioxide'), subject-verb agreement ('the process repeat'), and awkward phrasing ('Continuing of the process'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic article rules and ensuring consistent verb tense usage when describing a process. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures, such as using passive voice more effectively, would also be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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