Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-14
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)
According to the diagram, we can understand that through which way ethanol is produced. Basically ethanol is a biofuel.
The process actually begins with the emission of carbon dioxide from the vehicles.This carbon dioxide is then used by plants with sunlight to grow. Then these grown plants are harvested, cleaned and sent for the initial processing. Once the initial processing is completed, the plants are converted into cellulose.
The cellulose from the initial processing then goes for further processing. During this processing, cellulose is converted into sugar.
The produced sugar is then used for different purposes. One of the use of this sugar is to make ethanol which is used for medical purposes and other possible advantages to the community.
Finally, to make ethanol, microbes also known as bacteria is added to the processed sugar. And you have the ethanol.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to outline the stages of biofuel production, starting with carbon dioxide emission and ending with ethanol. However, the explanation misses several key details and connections shown in typical ethanol production diagrams, such as the fermentation stage and distillation. Furthermore, the length requirement has not been met, as the response contains only 140 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum. This results in an under-developed overview of the process and a negative impact on the overall task fulfillment, leading to a band score of 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The text is organized into short paragraphs that follow the chronological steps of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Then', 'Once', and 'Finally' are used to connect ideas, as seen in sentences like 'Once the initial processing is completed, the plants are converted into cellulose.' However, paragraphing is somewhat disjointed with overly short paragraphs, and referencing is occasionally repetitive ('This carbon dioxide', 'Then these grown plants', 'During this processing'). Progression is evident, but overall cohesion feels mechanical, fitting the descriptors for Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for describing a process, incorporating terms like 'emission', 'harvested', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. However, the range is narrow and repetitive, with frequent reliance on basic phrasing ('The process actually begins', 'sent for the initial processing', 'One of the use of this sugar'). There are also awkward word choices and phrasing, such as 'through which way ethanol is produced' and 'One of the use'. These limitations restrict the score to Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Once the initial processing is completed, the plants are converted into cellulose.' However, there are noticeable grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'microbes also known as bacteria is added' (bacteria are/is) and awkward relative clauses ('we can understand that through which way'). Punctuation is mostly fine, but the frequency of structural errors places the response firmly at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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