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 provides information regarding the production and distribution of ethanol. it depicts the process in few steps, starting from plantation of trees and plants which release direct energy in the form of sunlight and carbon dioxide which is harvested through man made ways, later on the harvesting goes through pre-processing. We know the composition of plants include cellulose and protein which is furthermore processed though chemicals in scientific labs by bioengineers or scientists and broken down into sugars, these sugars go through more chemical reactions and is converted into its desired form which is, ethanol. Ethanol is the required by each type of transportation in the form of fuel whether its petrol in cars, buses, trains or jet fuel used by airplanes. The moment any of these transportations are utilized by humans to fulfill their needs of travel, it releases carbon dioxide which is absorbed by the greenery in the atmosphere that includes plants, trees, forests and therefore the entire process repeats.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the initial plantation to the final distribution and consumption. However, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the main trends, which is a requirement for Task 1. The description is somewhat narrative rather than analytical, and it fails to clearly distinguish between the distinct stages shown in the diagram. While the information is generally accurate, the lack of a structured summary and the inclusion of some extraneous information (e.g., 'we know the composition of plants include...') detracts from the professional tone required for an academic report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is written as a single, long paragraph, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of the process. There is a lack of paragraphing to separate the different stages of the cycle. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'later on' and 'therefore', the flow is often mechanical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the lack of logical segmentation means the reader has to work harder to identify the distinct steps in the diagram. Using clear paragraph breaks for the production phase and the distribution/consumption phase would significantly improve the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and academic register expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'man made ways' and 'each type of transportation' are somewhat informal or imprecise. There is some repetition of basic terms, and the attempt to use scientific terminology is slightly awkward, such as 'processed though chemicals in scientific labs'. To improve, you should focus on using more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to industrial processes and chemical engineering, while maintaining a formal, objective tone throughout the report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains several grammatical errors, including issues with punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. For example, the text begins with a lowercase letter, and there are several run-on sentences that lack proper conjunctions or punctuation. There is a limited range of complex structures, and the existing ones often contain errors, such as 'is converted into its desired form which is, ethanol'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors, particularly regarding sentence boundaries and basic mechanics, prevents the response from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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