Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-08

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 diagrams illustrates stages involved in production of biofuel called ethanol.

Overall ,the procedure follows a recycle multistage sequence that begins with harvesting and ends with sugars added microbes and therefore , production of ethanol. It involves mainly 3 steps harvesting, preprocessing and processing respectively.

In the initial stage, the plants and trees use sunlight and carbon dioxide from atmosphere for energy production process called photosynthesis. The trees and plants are harvest called harvesting .

The next step is preprocessing stage in which cellulose is final product from plants .

Subsequently, cellulose send to factory or laboratory for chemical reaction which sugars is produce than microbes are added to them for biofuel production namely ,ethanol.

The ethanol use in vehicle for instance, car ,truck, airplane as a fuel. The CO2 is emit from vehicle into the environment again CO2 is reuse by plants and again cycle begins in the ecosystem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from photosynthesis to vehicle usage. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the transition from 'preprocessing' to 'chemical reaction' lacks detail regarding the specific inputs or conditions mentioned in the diagram. While the overview identifies the cyclical nature of the process, the explanation of the stages is slightly underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that all key features, such as the specific inputs (sunlight, CO2) and outputs at each stage, are described with greater precision and clarity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'The trees and plants are harvest called harvesting' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Additionally, the transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, such as the jump from the preprocessing stage to the chemical reaction. While there is an overall progression, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive structure of the sentences limit the effectiveness of the cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher score. You rely on basic terms like 'things', 'steps', and 'use'. There are also issues with word formation and collocation, such as 'sugars is produce' (should be 'sugars are produced') and 'are harvest' (should be 'are harvested'). To improve, focus on using more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'by-product', and ensure that you use the correct word forms (nouns vs. verbs) consistently.

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. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('sugars is produce'), missing articles ('in production of biofuel'), and awkward phrasing ('The ethanol use in vehicle'). The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying heavily on simple declarative sentences. To improve, you should focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and using a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions, which are essential for describing processes.

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

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