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 in various steps.

overall,ethanol is produced in a total of eight steps from the transition of the form of energy to the final resulted ethanol.

firstly,plants and trees gets energy from the sun including carbon dioxide and light .in the next steps tree are then harvested and grinned by a p reprocessing machine and converted into cellulose form. which is further processed in the laboratory until it is converted into sugar units .then in the next step various microbes are added to the sugar and as a result ethanol is obtained.

There are various uses of ethanol bio fuel which includes the use of ethanol by cars,trucks and aeroplanes.

The diagram also assume that as the cars releases the carbon dioxide these are again obtained by the trees and again ethanol is formed. this is like a recycling process which is continuously producing ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the initial absorption of solar energy to the final usage and recycling. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For example, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugar units' is mentioned, but the specific role of the 'pre-processing' and 'fermentation' stages could be more clearly linked to the diagram. The overview is present but lacks a professional tone. To improve, ensure that the summary highlights the cyclical nature of the process more precisely, as this is a key feature of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, with frequent use of 'then' and 'in the next step'. The transition between the production process and the usage/recycling section is abrupt. Furthermore, the punctuation is inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and commas, which disrupts the flow of the text. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring standard punctuation would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. Phrases like 'grinned by a p reprocessing machine' (likely meaning 'ground' and 'pre-processing') show spelling and word-choice errors. The term 'resulted ethanol' is also non-standard. While the student successfully uses technical terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'carbon dioxide', the overall range is limited. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'converted', 'synthesized', or 'facilitated'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('plants and trees gets', 'tree are', 'cars releases') and incorrect article usage. Punctuation is a significant issue, with multiple instances of missing spaces after punctuation marks and inconsistent capitalization at the start of sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors and poor punctuation control prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.

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

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