Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-11

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 process of ethanol production from the plants and trees.

Overall, this process consist main seven steps. It starts with growing plants and trees from sunlight. End product consists ethanol.

The process starts with growing and harvesting plants and trees under natural sunlight and carbon dioxide. After harvesting, plats get pre-processed and cellulose is seperated from the trees. Subsequently, cellulose goes under process. It is converted into the sugars.

Afterwards, microbes are added into sugar mixture. The last main stage is a fermentation stage in which ethanol is being produced. Once ethanol is produced, it is used as a fuel in the various vehicles such as car, trucks and airplanes. These vehicles emites carbon dioxide in the environment which is used by trees. And this is how cycle get continued.

AI examiner evaluation

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 you have identified the main stages of the process, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully develop the information provided in the diagram. For instance, the transition from cellulose to sugar and the specific inputs/outputs at each stage could be explained with more precision. To improve, ensure you describe all stages thoroughly and provide a more comprehensive overview of the entire cycle to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a fuller understanding of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Afterwards', 'Subsequently', and 'The last main stage', which provide a basic structure. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the connection between the final stage and the beginning of the cycle could be more smoothly integrated. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the transition between the end of the process and the start of the cycle is clearly articulated to enhance the overall progression of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and basic. Phrases like 'growing plants and trees' and 'process starts' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher bands. There are also minor errors, such as 'plats' (spelling) and 'emites' (spelling). To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more specific terminology related to industrial or biological processes, such as 'cultivation', 'breakdown', or 'conversion', and ensure greater accuracy in your spelling and word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'this process consist main seven steps' (subject-verb agreement and word order) and 'ethanol is being produced' (tense usage). Additionally, there are missing articles, such as 'in the various vehicles' and 'in the environment'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the clarity of your writing. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.

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

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