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 diagram illustrates the production of a biofuel named "Ethanol" which acts as the backbone of industries and automobile transports . As the word biofuel suggests the ethanol is made from organic materials.

The production of ethanol consist of many phases and processes In the process of making ethanol the cycle starts with the plants and trees. The plants and trees are harvested and converted into cellulose. this phase is known as the preprocessing phase. The cellulose is then turned into sugars after moving through the main processing phase. At the very last stage of the production "Microbes" are added into the sugars and as a result Ethanol is formed.

The ethanol is then used to power many automobile vehicles such as cars and even planes. The working of these automobiles results in the release of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere. In this way the cycle completes and the carbon-dioxide goes back to the plants and trees which they use in order to grow.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from raw materials to the final product and its usage. However, the description is somewhat generic and lacks the precision required for a high band. For instance, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugars' is mentioned, but the diagram's specific stages (such as 'pretreatment' or 'fermentation') are not clearly identified or labelled. The overview is also slightly weak, as it focuses more on the general concept of biofuels rather than summarizing the key features of the process shown in the diagram. To improve, ensure you explicitly mention the specific steps and inputs/outputs shown in the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into three logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear progression from the raw materials to the final product and its environmental impact. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the production process and the usage phase could be smoother. Additionally, there are some minor issues with punctuation, such as missing full stops between sentences (e.g., 'processes In the process'). Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'organic materials', 'cellulose', and 'microbes' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic phrasing. Some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'backbone of industries' or 'working of these automobiles', which are not the most natural collocations in a technical description. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'conversion', 'by-product', or 'catalyst'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in the atmosphere' vs 'in atmosphere') and punctuation errors (missing periods). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'The production of ethanol consist of'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and sentence boundaries will be beneficial.

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

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