Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-06

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 diagram illustrates the process of production of the biofuel (ethanol) production.

Overall, the process consists of cyclical , multistage procedure beginning with plant growth and concluding with consumption of ethanol as fuel in vehicles , while they release the carbon dioxide into air .

Firstly , the carbon dioxide and sunlight which is present in air is consumed by plants for their growth , they are cultivated through machines and sent into pre-processing where cellulose is extracted. Followed by sending cellulose into the laboratories for testing and making them processed .

Then they extract sugar and add microbes to facilitate fermentation, which ultimately produces ethanol fuel . The fuel used for commercial purpose like fuel in cars , trucks, where carbon dioxide is produced which is a raw material for the plant growth .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the main features of the ethanol production process are identified, the description is somewhat superficial. The explanation of the stages, such as 'making them processed' and 'extract sugar', lacks the necessary detail and precision expected for an Academic Task 1 response. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the cyclical nature of the process. To improve, ensure all stages are described with sufficient detail and meet the length requirement to allow for a full development of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Then'). There are also issues with referencing; for example, the use of 'they' is ambiguous in several places, such as 'they are cultivated' and 'making them processed', where the antecedent is not clearly defined. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring clear pronoun references would enhance the flow and logical progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. Phrases like 'making them processed' are imprecise and awkward. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'fuel' and 'process'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more specific technical vocabulary related to industrial processes (e.g., 'conversion', 'distillation', 'by-product') and demonstrate a better grasp of collocations to describe the stages of the diagram more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, 'The diagram illustrates the process of production of the biofuel (ethanol) production' is redundant. There are also issues with article usage ('into air', 'into the laboratories') and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and refining sentence structure will be beneficial.

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

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