Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)
In this diagram it is explaining how the ethanol is produced. As we see in the diagram, it started with trees, and plants got sunlight and carbon dioxide from nature and then harvested those plants. After harvesting, the plants go for pre-processing. From this process we got the cellulose from the plants. When we process the cellulose, sugar comes out from it; that is a major component for making the ethanol, and when we add the microbes, the sugar ethanol is produced from that. This is the process of making the ethnol.
Ethanol can be used for any type of vehicle that is running on the oil. So, we can use that in airplanes, heavy vehicles, cars, etc. When ethanol is consumed, it produces the carbon dioxide that is the main component for trees and plants to get energy for growing. This process is a cycle in which the action and results are the growing factor of each other.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a basic overview of the process but lacks the analytical depth required for an Academic Task 1. While it identifies the main stages, it fails to present a clear, structured summary of the process flow. The description is somewhat narrative rather than analytical, and it misses the opportunity to highlight key technical stages such as the conversion of cellulose to sugar or the specific role of fermentation. The inclusion of information about vehicle usage is largely irrelevant to the diagram provided, which focuses on the production process, thus detracting from the task focus.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into two paragraphs, which is a positive start. However, the logical flow is somewhat mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on simple connectors like 'after' and 'when'. The transition between the production process and the usage of ethanol is abrupt, and the final sentence is somewhat confusing in its attempt to explain the cycle, which hinders the overall clarity of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is functional but basic. The student uses repetitive phrasing such as 'in the diagram' and 'the plants'. There is a lack of precise technical terminology related to industrial processes (e.g., 'fermentation', 'conversion', 'by-product'). Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'growing factor of each other', which does not accurately describe the cyclical nature of the process. To improve, the student should focus on using more specific verbs and nouns related to scientific or industrial diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies primarily on simple sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it is explaining' (should be 'the diagram explains'), 'the sugar ethanol is produced' (which is confusing), and 'the growing factor of each other'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the overall control of complex sentence structures is weak. The errors do not completely impede communication, but they are frequent enough to limit the score.
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.