Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Now we discuss here how to ethanol is made by passing through different stages. Firstly, plants and trees required energy to grow that comes from sunlight and CO2. Then in next process we harvest the plants and send them for pre-processing and from we get cellulose. Then in next process we can passes this from lab processing. After that, we make sugars and in which we add some microbes and produced ethanol. In next process, we get petrol, diesel which are used for running vehicles like cars, trucks and airoplane etc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the ability to provide a comprehensive summary of the process. While the student identifies the main stages, the description is superficial and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the task. The explanation of the process is fragmented, and several key steps are either omitted or described with insufficient clarity. To improve, the student must expand on each stage of the diagram, ensuring all steps from raw material to final product are clearly explained and compared where appropriate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks a clear structure or paragraphing. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the process using transition words like 'Firstly', 'Then', and 'After that', the progression is mechanical and repetitive. The lack of a clear introduction or conclusion makes the text feel like a list of steps rather than a cohesive summary. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall flow is hindered by the brevity of the response. To improve, the student should group related steps into distinct paragraphs and use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link ideas more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple verbs like 'make', 'get', and 'send'. There is little evidence of the technical or precise vocabulary required to describe a scientific process effectively. Phrases such as 'lab processing' are vague and lack the precision expected in an Academic Task 1 response. The student struggles to use precise terminology for the stages shown in the diagram. To improve, the student should focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to industrial or biological processes and avoid overusing generic verbs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar is characterized by frequent errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'how to ethanol is made' and 'we can passes this'. The sentence structures are simple and lack the variety required for higher bands. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. The response lacks complex sentence structures, which are necessary to demonstrate a higher level of grammatical control. To improve, the student should practice forming complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions and focus on correcting basic errors in verb tense and word order.

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

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