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 below illustrates the production of biofuel called ethanol.
Overall, process includes several steps from plants and trees growing to harvesting and pre-processing it and then sugars molecules are separated and finally ethanol is produced and sent to consumers which further produce carbon dioxide.
Production starts with energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide which helps in the growth of plants and trees. Once they are fully grown they are harvested and sent for pre-processing. In this step, trees are cut into small pieces and afterwards cellulose is added. Then it is sent for processing. Once they are processed, sugar molecules are separated from other materials. Furthermore, microbes are added which are helpful to produce ethanol and finally ethanol is produced.
Once ethanol is produced, it is sent in the consumers market where people use it for several purposes specially for fuels. Mostly vehicles use it for fuel and they produce carbon dioxide gas which plants use for their growth.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all stages of the process, from the initial growth of plants to the final consumption of ethanol. The overview provides a summary of the main stages, which is a positive feature. However, the description of the process is somewhat simplistic. For instance, the mention of 'cellulose is added' is a misinterpretation of the diagram, which shows cellulose as a component of the plant material rather than an additive. Additionally, the explanation of the cycle could be more precise by highlighting the conversion stages more clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure that the information extracted from the diagram is accurate and that the relationship between the stages is described with greater technical clarity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on simple connectors like 'then', 'once', and 'finally'. There is a lack of more sophisticated linking phrases that would improve the flow between sentences. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal cohesion within the paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider variety of referencing and transition words to connect the steps of the process more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. Terms such as 'small pieces', 'helpful', and 'several purposes' are quite basic. While the student correctly uses technical terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'carbon dioxide', the overall range is limited. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'sent in the consumers market', which should be 'sent to the consumer market'. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'break down', 'fermentation', or 'raw materials'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'Overall, process includes' is missing an article ('the'), and 'sugars molecules' contains an unnecessary pluralization. There are also issues with preposition usage, such as 'sent in the consumers market'. The punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate better control. The errors present do not significantly impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score in this category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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