Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07

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 diagram illustrates how ethanol is manufactured. This process includes eight steps.

Overall, the production of ethanol starts with the harvesting of trees which trap sunlight and carbon dioxide directly from the sun and this procedure ends at the production of ethanol.

First of all, trees gain energy from the sun in the form of sunlight and carbon dioxide. After this, these trees are then harvested by a machine and go through pre-processing from where the cellulose is extracted, the cellulose then passes through the processing. In this step, different chemicals are used to obtain sugars.

After these initial steps, microbes are added to sugars which are then converted to ethanol, which is the last step. The obtained ethanol is used in various types of transportation that releases carbon dioxide. The released carbon dioxide binds again with sunlight and is used by the trees. These are the steps involved in the manufacturing of a biofuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from tree growth to fuel usage. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the transition from 'pre-processing' to 'processing' is vague, and the mention of 'different chemicals' lacks the specific detail expected in an Academic Task 1 response. While the overview is present, it could be more analytical by highlighting the cyclical nature of the process more clearly. The response meets the requirements but lacks the depth of detail needed for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the diagram. Paragraphing is used, though the structure is quite basic. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'After this', and 'After these initial steps' are used to guide the reader, but they are somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The flow is generally clear, but the connection between the final stage of fuel usage and the initial stage of tree growth could be more smoothly integrated to emphasize the cyclical nature of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Words like 'gain', 'go through', and 'added' are functional but basic. There is an attempt to use technical terms like 'cellulose' and 'microbes', which is positive. However, the range is limited, and the phrasing is often repetitive. To improve, you should incorporate more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'convert', 'break down', or 'facilitate', to demonstrate a wider lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'from where the cellulose is extracted, the cellulose then passes through the processing.' This is a run-on sentence that could be improved with better punctuation or conjunctions. There are occasional errors in article usage and prepositional phrases (e.g., 'at the production of ethanol'). The grammar is generally functional, but more variety in complex sentence structures would be beneficial.

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.