Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-13
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 5.0)
the diagram illustrates the production of biofuel called ethanol. the process include many sources, helpful in process.
first the energy such as carbon dioxide and sunlight is very beneficial for trees and crops. the riped crops harvesting by a tractor and then transfered into machine. the grains are separated and the component cellulose is extracted from grains. the compound then collected by industries. by further processing, sugar separated from particles. microbes are added in sugar to start the process and converted it into ethanol. it is clearly seen that this compound is very useful in running automobiles. the whole process is repeated in a cycle. carbon dioxide release from vehicles and planes helpful for plants and crops for their growth
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student has attempted to summarise the diagram illustrating the production of ethanol, identifying some main features such as the growth of crops, harvesting, separation of grains, and the conversion of sugar into ethanol using microbes. However, the response falls significantly short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 120 words. This under-length impacts the overall development and completeness of the response, leading to a partial overview. Furthermore, some details are slightly inaccurate or vague, such as stating that carbon dioxide and sunlight are transferred directly to trees, and the conclusion lacks a fully synthesized overview of the entire cyclical nature. Consequently, the task achievement is limited by the word count and under-developed details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text lacks proper paragraphing, presented as a single block of text or poorly divided sentences, which hampers the logical flow and visual progression of ideas. While the writer attempts to describe the process in a chronological sequence starting with 'first' and moving through steps like 'harvesting by a tractor and then transfered into machine', the overall organisation is weak. Cohesive devices are minimal, and referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'this compound' or 'microbes are added in sugar to start the process and converted it into ethanol'. The lack of cohesive links and structured paragraphs results in a disjointed reading experience, matching the characteristics of a Band 5 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The lexical resource is basic and repetitive, utilizing everyday terms like 'process', 'things', 'machine', and 'compound'. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'riped crops harvesting by a tractor' instead of 'ripe crops are harvested by a tractor', and 'carbon dioxide release' instead of 'carbon dioxide released'. While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the general subject matter of ethanol production, the limited range and frequent inaccuracies in word formation and phrasing restrict the lexical score to Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The student demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on simple sentences and passive constructions that frequently contain errors. Examples of grammatical inaccuracies include 'the process include many sources', 'riped crops harvesting', and 'converted it into ethanol' where the subject and tense agreement fail. Punctuation and capitalization are largely absent or incorrect, as seen with sentences starting without capital letters. These frequent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the text from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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