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 process illustrates the production of biofuel called ethanol.
Noticeably, process undergoes from many steps which are not only complex but also systematic.
To begin with, plants and trees are grow under the energy of sunlight and carbon dioxide. After that, fully grown trees are harvested and then transferred into pre-processing machinery in which trees are chopped down in small pieces. After which, this small pieces converted into cellulose and these cellulose are goes into laboratory for processing in which sugar are made and these sugar added with microbes and this mixture is goes for processing from that ethanol is produced. Finally, the ethanol ready to use for vehicles like car, truck and airplane and these vehicles emit the carbon dioxide which is help full for growing tree and plants.
Overall, there are many steps for producing ethanol which starts with harvesting of fully grown tree and plants and ends with pure ethanol which is useful for vehicles.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of plants to the final use in vehicles. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For example, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugar' and then to 'ethanol' is described in a very simplified manner, lacking the technical detail required for a high-band response. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the stages could be more analytical. The inclusion of the carbon cycle (vehicles emitting CO2 for plants) is a good observation of the diagram's cyclical nature, but the overall development of the process stages remains basic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for a short report. There is a logical progression from the start of the process to the end. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'After that', 'After which', and 'Finally' are used to link sentences, but the flow between ideas feels slightly disjointed. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'these cellulose are goes into laboratory', where the pluralisation and subject-verb agreement issues hinder the smooth flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher bands. The student relies on basic terminology like 'small pieces', 'made', and 'ready to use'. There are also noticeable errors in word choice and form, such as 'these cellulose are goes' and 'help full'. To improve, the student should use more specific process-related vocabulary, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'by-product'. The range is sufficient to convey the general meaning, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a band 7 or higher.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('plants and trees are grow', 'these cellulose are goes', 'sugar are made') and incorrect article usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. The sentence structures are often repetitive, relying heavily on 'and' to connect clauses rather than using more sophisticated subordinating conjunctions or relative clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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