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 graph illustrates us the production method of biofuel called ethanol.

Ethanol is produced from the biomass , such as plants trees, crops etc. First in this process energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide help the crops , plants , trees to grow. When the trees are grown they are harvested and sent to pre-processing plants where they are processed and transformed into cellulose . When cellulose are transfer to the processing plants it is converted into sugars. When sugars is created fermentation process starts the microbes are added and ethanol is finally created from the biomass.

Now when ethanol is created it is heavily used in industries and the transportation like used in trucks, cars, etc. The ethanol is then burned and it is converted into the carbon dioxide . The carbon dioxide is then mixed within atmostphere from where it is added with sunlight and then used to help plants, trees, crops etc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from biomass growth to combustion and recycling. However, the summary lacks a clear overview or 'main features' paragraph, which is essential for a Band 7+ score. While the process is described sequentially, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks the analytical comparison required for a high-scoring report. The inclusion of 'etc.' is informal and should be avoided in academic writing. To improve, ensure you provide a clear summary of the overall process in the introduction and focus on the cyclical nature of the diagram more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a process description. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive, with 'When' used to start multiple sentences. The progression of ideas is clear, but the transition between the production phase and the usage phase could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow is slightly hindered by the repetitive sentence structures. To improve, vary your linking words (e.g., 'subsequently', 'following this', 'thereafter') to create a more sophisticated flow between the stages of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'heavily used' and 'finally created' are functional but basic. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'atmostphere' (spelling error) and the slightly awkward phrasing 'illustrates us'. The use of 'biomass' and 'fermentation' shows an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary, which is positive. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'When cellulose are transfer' should be 'When cellulose is transferred', and 'sugars is created' should be 'sugar is created' or 'sugars are created'. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading your work specifically for subject-verb agreement and verb tense consistency.

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

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