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 circular diagram illustrates the production of biofuel from sunlight, plants and trees. On the one hand, this process is about 8 stages. Initially, this process starts from energy that consists of sunlight and carbon dioxide which cause the growth of plants. After this process harvesting happens. Moreover, pre processing takes place and and make cellulose. Furthermore, from cellulose we sent cellulose into labs and we get sugar from there. Next, then microbes are added to the sugar that we get from laboratory then an ethanol is produce. The ethanol is then distributed and used as fuel for various transports. As these vehicle operate, they emit carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and trees, thus completing the cycle and allowing the cycle to begin again
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the student identifies the main stages of the biofuel production cycle, the description is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the process. The overview is missing, and the report does not effectively highlight the key features or make meaningful comparisons. Because the response is under-length and lacks sufficient development of the information provided in the diagram, it does not fully address the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is written as a single paragraph, which is not ideal for a report of this nature. While there is a basic attempt at logical progression using transition words like 'Initially', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore', the flow is somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'from cellulose we sent cellulose into labs', which is repetitive and awkward. To improve, the student should use clearer paragraphing to separate the stages of the process and improve the variety of cohesive devices to link ideas more naturally.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally functional but limited. The student relies on basic terms like 'process', 'get', and 'things'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'various transports' instead of 'various types of transport' or 'vehicles'. The repetition of the word 'process' and 'cycle' suggests a limited range of vocabulary. To achieve a higher band, the student should aim to use more precise, academic terminology related to industrial processes, such as 'conversion', 'fermentation', or 'emissions'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'an ethanol is produce' should be 'ethanol is produced', and 'as these vehicle operate' should be 'as these vehicles operate'. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over complex sentence structures. Increasing the variety of sentence types while focusing on accuracy would improve the score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.