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 sequential steps to produce ethanol, one type of biofuel.
The overall process includes 7 steps starting from the growing of plants and trees with the help of sunlight and carbon dioxide to finishing it by adding microbes to the ethanol. Several number of technical instruments were required to finish the process.
At the first stage plants and trees grow capturing sunlight and using carbon dioxide. After harvesting the crops when they are ready, it is sent for pre-processing which is then converted to cellulose. The pre-processing requires a type of mechanical instrument.
In the following steps, processing is done using some chemical substances which converts the cellulose to sugars. After that Microbes are added to the p that can be called finished ethanol. This ethanol can be used as fuel for cars, trucks or planes. these vehicles emit carbon dioxide which is reused by plant and trees to grow. So this can be regarded as a cyclic process.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from plant growth to the final fuel application. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For example, the transition from 'pre-processing' to 'cellulose' and then to 'sugars' is mentioned, but the specific inputs (like enzymes or heat) shown in the diagram are omitted. The overview is functional but lacks a clear synthesis of the cyclical nature of the process until the very end. To improve, ensure all key stages and inputs mentioned in the diagram are clearly identified and described in relation to the overall process flow.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the steps. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'At the first stage', 'In the following steps', and 'After that' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'Several number of technical instruments', which disrupts the cohesion. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the final product and the vehicle usage could be more smoothly integrated into the process description.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'biofuel', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'sequential'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward collocations. For instance, 'Several number of' is grammatically incorrect (should be 'A number of' or 'Several'), and 'finishing it by adding' is imprecise. The phrase 'p that can be called' appears to be a typo or incomplete thought. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise technical vocabulary and avoiding repetitive or vague phrasing like 'a type of mechanical instrument'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('plant and trees' vs 'plants and trees') and awkward phrasing ('Several number of technical instruments were required'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are minor errors in capitalization and sentence structure, such as starting a sentence with 'these vehicles' after a period. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Increasing the variety of error-free complex sentences would improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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