Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31

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 flowchart illustrates the information of how a biofuel product named ethanol is made.

Overall, the process starts with the plants taking carbon dioxide from the environment. These plants are going through different processes and ethanol is produced, which is used by vehicles. Vehicles consume this biofuel and as a result carbon dioxide is released in air.

In the first stage, carbon dioxide is taken by plants. These plants are harvested and sent to factories to extract cellulose. The cellulose particles are processed in labs and converted into specific type of sugars. Macrobes are added in these sugars to make a biofuel product. This product is named as ethanol.

Vehicles including cars, trucks, and even planes use this product as a fuel. Vehicles undergo a specific mechanism through which carbon dioxide is released in air. This gaseous molecules of carbon dioxide are again absorbed by plants and here the cycle starts again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from plant growth to vehicle consumption and the release of carbon dioxide. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear overview or summary of the key features. While the process is described, the connection between the stages could be more analytical. For instance, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugars' and the role of 'microbes' (misspelled as 'macrobes') are mentioned, but the response lacks the precision required for a higher band. The summary is functional but does not highlight the cyclical nature of the process as effectively as it could.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear progression from the initial stage to the final stage. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'In the first stage' and 'These plants' are used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit rigid. The transition between the production of ethanol and its use in vehicles is clear, but the overall structure would benefit from more varied linking words to connect the stages of the cycle more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat limited and repetitive. Words like 'plants', 'process', and 'carbon dioxide' are used repeatedly. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'macrobes' (likely intended to be 'microbes') and 'gaseous molecules of carbon dioxide', which sounds slightly unnatural. To achieve a higher band, the student should aim to use more precise terminology related to industrial processes and avoid repeating basic nouns. The range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the sophistication required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally clear, there are several minor errors, such as 'illustrates the information of how' (should be 'illustrates how'), 'released in air' (should be 'released into the air'), and 'this gaseous molecules' (should be 'these gaseous molecules'). These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a lack of full control over complex structures. The student demonstrates an ability to form sentences correctly, but more attention to articles and prepositional usage would improve the overall accuracy.

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

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