Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16

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 highlight's the biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Overall, nine steps are involved in this process. Starting from releasing the energy till the end by transporting it.

The first stage involved, the sunlight and carbon dioxide are released in the form of energy to the plants and trees while they were growing which later undergo through harvesting and pre-processing period eventually it will turn into cellulose which will send to the laboratory for processing and which will later transformed it in the sugars. The last stage shows the microbes is adding to the sugar to form ethanol.

Therefore, the ethanol is ready and it will send to the buyer by the asist of three mode of transport such as vehicles that involved cars, truck and aeroplane. The ethanol will produced carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide will cycle back to the plants and trees in the form of energy. Therefore it is a cyclic process that dependent on each other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process of ethanol production from the provided diagram, noting key stages such as plant growth, harvesting, processing, and the addition of microbes. However, there are significant inaccuracies in interpreting the visual data. For instance, the writer states that sunlight and carbon dioxide are released in the form of energy, which misreads the diagram's indication that energy drives plant growth. Furthermore, the description of the carbon dioxide cycle is confused. While the main features are touched upon, the lack of precision and misinterpretation of relationships place this response at Band 5.0 according to the task achievement descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is divided into four paragraphs, which attempts to structure the overview and stages of the process. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions and confusing sentence structures, such as starting paragraphs with 'Therefore' or 'The first stage involved'. Cohesive devices are often inaccurate or mechanically applied. Referencing between sentences is unclear in places, making it difficult to follow the exact sequence of the cycle. Paragraphing is present, but overall cohesion is faulty, corresponding to a Band 5.0 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, featuring frequent reliance on simple terms like 'process', 'stage', and 'form'. There are noticeable errors in word choice and morphology, such as 'highlight's' instead of 'highlights', 'asist' instead of 'assistance', and 'is adding' instead of 'are added'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success. These lexical limitations and errors cause some difficulty for the reader, aligning with the criteria for Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences are frequently strung together with conjunctions or relative pronouns to create lengthy, run-on structures that lack control, such as in the third paragraph. There are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the diagram highlight's', 'microbes is adding', 'ethanol will produced'), incorrect verb tenses, and missing prepositions. These frequent errors cause strain for the reader and reflect a Band 5.0 level.

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

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