Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28

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 diagram below demonstrates that how biofuel called as ethanol is manufactured.

Overall, the figure illustrates the production of ethanol which starts from the harvesting of plants and trees and transformed into ethanol released as carbon dioxide.

The initial stage indicates the plants and trees which absorb the energy by sunlight to grow. After the maximum growth, these are harvested by means of a tractor. The third step involves preprocessing, in which the harvested plants and trees are prepared for converting them into cellulose. Furthermore, it goes to labs for testing and then these are used for processing. Sugar structures are formed after the production of cellulose which is processed.

Microbes are added to those structures which produces ethanol. Vehicles, for example cars, trucks and planes use fuel and release as carbon dioxide in the air. The process is repeated and this carbon dioxide with sunlight is used again for the manufacturing of this biofuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from harvesting to consumption and recycling. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it describes the process rather than highlighting the cyclical nature of the diagram effectively. Some details, such as the 'testing' phase, are mentioned, but the connection between the sugar structures and the fermentation process could be more clearly explained. The response addresses the prompt's requirement to summarise the information, but it lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the stages, which prevents it from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised logically, following the chronological order of the diagram. Paragraphing is present, though the transition between the initial growth phase and the industrial processing phase is a bit abrupt. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'The initial stage', and 'The third step' are used to guide the reader, though some of these feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, contributing to a coherent overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'harvested', 'preprocessing', 'cellulose', and 'fermentation' (implied by the mention of microbes). However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'biofuel called as ethanol' and 'sugar structures are formed'. The range is sufficient to convey the process, but it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Some word choices are slightly repetitive, and the phrasing could be more natural to reflect a more academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'demonstrates that how' (redundant 'that'), 'biofuel called as ethanol' (incorrect preposition), and 'which produces ethanol' (subject-verb agreement error: 'microbes' is plural). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The use of passive voice is appropriate for a process description, but the control over sentence construction needs more refinement to ensure accuracy.

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

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