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 is then converted to ethanol, which is the last step. The obtained ethanol is used in various type of transportation that release 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 renewable fuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the initial absorption of sunlight by trees to the final use of the fuel. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the cycle. While the key steps are identified, the explanation of the chemical conversion process is quite brief. To improve, you should focus on highlighting the cyclical nature of the process more effectively and ensuring that the relationship between the stages is clearly articulated. The summary is accurate but could benefit from more precise terminology regarding the transition between the physical harvesting and the chemical processing stages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'After this', and 'In this step' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally repetitive, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the final stage of the process and the initial stage could be smoother to better emphasize the cyclical nature of the diagram. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall cohesion of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'harvested', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'renewable fuel'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'various type of transportation' (should be 'types') and 'trap sunlight... directly from the sun' (which is slightly redundant). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes and ensure that your collocations are natural. The current range is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for a higher score.

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 'These trees are then harvested... and go through pre-processing from where the cellulose is extracted' (a run-on sentence) and 'microbes are added to sugars which is then converted' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some issues with comma usage and sentence boundaries. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of relative clauses to create more complex, error-free sentences.

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