Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

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 given pictorial diagram depicts how Ethanol: a biofuel is made using plants and trees.

Overall, the process consists of seven stages starting with harvesting the grown plants and trees and ends with adding Microbes to make the ethanol.

At the beginning of the cycle, Plants and trees grow using energy which consists of sunlight and carbon dioxide. Once it is fully grown harvesting take place using machine or tractors. This is followed by Preprocessing of the harvested plants which results into Cellulose. Subsequently, chemical processing of that cellulose take place into the laboratory to extract Sugars. In next phase, the Microbes are added to extracted sugars, resulting into Ethanol. Following this, produced ethanol is used by different vehicles like car, truck and even by big plans which produces Carbon Dioxide.

It is never ending process because Carbon Dioxide emitted by different vehicle that uses the ethanol is used by plants and trees to grow along with the sunlight which is the first step of the production of this Biofuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the ethanol production process. You have provided a clear overview and followed the sequence of the diagram from plant growth to vehicle usage. However, the description of the process is somewhat simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more precise details regarding the transformation stages, such as the specific inputs and outputs at each step (e.g., mentioning the conversion of cellulose to sugar). While the main features are covered, the analysis lacks the depth required for a higher score, as some steps are described in a very basic manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'At the beginning of the cycle', 'Once', 'Subsequently', and 'Following this' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes a bit mechanical. The transition between the production process and the final usage could be smoother. Additionally, the paragraphing is functional, but the final paragraph could be better integrated into the main body of the report to improve the overall flow of the information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'harvesting', 'preprocessing', 'cellulose', and 'extracted'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'big plans' (likely meant 'planes') and 'results into' (should be 'results in'). The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that technical terms are used accurately within the context of the process description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'harvesting take place' (subject-verb agreement), 'results into' (preposition error), and 'It is never ending process' (missing article). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of colons and capitalization of common nouns like 'Plants' and 'Microbes'. These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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