Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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 process chart depict the process of making ethanol by biofuel from plants and trees and how carbon dioxide circulates throughout the cycle.

Overall, there are several steps of producing ethanol. All the steps are mandatory to obtain finished product. Moreover, carbon dioxide plays a significant role in production of ethnol.

In details, in the first step, plants and trees produce their food with the help of sunlight and carbon dioxide help them to grow. After that, farmers harvest matured crops and sent them for pre-processing machines. In the next step, after pre-processing cellulose sperated from trees and plants. Furthermore, cellulose go for chemical processing in labotaries where scientists sperate sugars molecules.

In addition, microbes was added in sugar molecules. and finally, ethnol produced which will use as a fuel in public transportation in cars, trucks and aircrafts. After that, vechials released carbon dioxide which again mix in environment and then consumed by plants and trees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview of the ethanol production process and identifies the main stages, including the cyclical nature of carbon dioxide. However, the description is somewhat simplistic. While the main features are covered, the explanation of the chemical processing stage is vague, and the transition between the harvesting and the final fuel usage could be more detailed to better reflect the complexity of the diagram. The summary is accurate, but it lacks the depth required for a higher band score, as it tends to list steps rather than synthesise the information effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'After that' is used twice in close proximity). Some transitions are slightly awkward, such as 'In details,' which is not standard academic phrasing. While the progression of ideas is generally logical, the lack of varied linking words and occasional issues with referencing mean that the cohesion does not flow as naturally as it would in a higher-band response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to understand the process. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'ethnol' (repeatedly), 'sperated', 'labotaries', and 'vechials'. These errors are noticeable and detract from the professional tone of the report. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited; using more precise terms like 'fermentation' or 'by-product' would have improved the score. The word choice is functional but lacks the sophistication and precision expected at higher levels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('microbes was added', 'cellulose go for'), missing articles ('in labotaries'), and incorrect verb forms ('ethnol produced which will use'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be distracting. The control over punctuation and sentence construction is inconsistent, which limits the score in this criterion.

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

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