Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The diagram explains the procedures in manufacturing of ethanol.

Generally, there are about 8 different stages in the production of ethanol starting from growing of plants and trees to the last stage which is adding of microbes.

The first phase of producing ethanol is the cultivation, the period when the tree is planted grows to a certain level then it will be harvested and taken to where it will be crushed which is also known as the pre-processing stage and it becomes cellulose. Furthermore, the cellulose will be moved to a where it will be processed and turned into sugers, then we have our last stage and that is when microbes will be added then ethanol is produced and sold to vehicles owners as biofuel and then it will be used for transportation.

Finally, while driving, carbon dioxide comes out and spreads to the air causing pollution to the public.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response provides a basic overview of the ethanol production process, but it fails to cover all stages comprehensively. While it mentions cultivation, crushing, and the addition of microbes, it misses key intermediate steps such as the fermentation and distillation phases, which are critical to the process shown in the diagram. The description is somewhat superficial and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the transformation from raw material to final product. To improve, you should ensure that every major stage depicted in the diagram is clearly identified and described in your summary, rather than grouping them into vague categories.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the general flow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the transition 'Furthermore' is used, but the overall progression between sentences feels disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'moved to a where it will be processed', which contains a grammatical gap. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a more seamless narrative.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. You rely on basic terms like 'things', 'stages', and 'procedures'. There are also some spelling errors, such as 'sugers' instead of 'sugars'. To improve, you should incorporate more topic-specific terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'distillation', 'raw materials', or 'by-products'. Using more precise vocabulary will help you describe the technical nature of the diagram more effectively and demonstrate a broader range of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'the procedures in manufacturing of ethanol' should be 'the procedures for the manufacturing of ethanol', and 'moved to a where it will be processed' is syntactically incomplete. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases throughout the text. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your sentence structures are complete and grammatically sound.

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