Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30
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 illustrates how to made ethanol’s with the help of nature, which is known as biofuel production.
Overall, the main features to produce ethanol are plant growing and sugars. Which is shown in different steps.
First to grow plants and trees in large areas which can produce carbon dioxide than harvest small crops with the help of machine that called tractor. The crops collect in pre-processing and that particals called cellulose. Whereas, they check in laboratory for further process.
To addition, mixed some sugars in final processing and the microbes produce the ethanol. That ethanol is use in our daily routine life such as, vehicles, cars, plane and many more products related to engines. Those all things release the carbon dioxide and with the help of this our initial step begins to grow more trees. Moreover, this cycle can made ethanol and help of carbon dioxide tree are growing.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response identifies the main stages of the ethanol production process, such as plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, and fermentation. However, the description is somewhat superficial and lacks precision. For instance, the transition between 'pre-processing' and 'final processing' is vague, and the explanation of the cycle (carbon dioxide absorption) is slightly confused in its phrasing. While the main features are covered, the report would benefit from a more structured approach that clearly delineates the sequence of the diagram. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the cyclical nature of the process more clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'To addition' are grammatically incorrect and do not serve as effective transitions. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, the use of 'Those all things' to refer back to the previous sentence is awkward. While there is a logical flow, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional misuse of cohesive devices limit the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate to describe the process, but it is limited and occasionally imprecise. Words like 'particals' (particles) and 'made' (make) show issues with word form and spelling. The range of vocabulary is narrow, relying on basic terms such as 'things' and 'daily routine life'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'raw materials', rather than relying on general-purpose language. Some errors in word choice, such as 'ethanol's', also detract from the clarity of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('this cycle can made ethanol'), article usage, and sentence structure ('First to grow plants... which can produce...'). Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper structure, such as 'Which is shown in different steps.' While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of control over complex sentence structures and the high frequency of basic errors prevent a higher score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and verb tenses would be a significant improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.