Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-17

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 production of ethanol.

Ethanol is a biofuel. It's production starts with sunlight and carbin dioxide for growing trees and ends with vehicles producing carbon dioxide using ethanol as fuel. Many steps are involved in the process of making ethanol which includes physical labour as well as chemical processing.

The plants and trees grow using energy, and they are harvested after a season. The harvested crop then goes through pre-processing through the help of various machines and produce cellulose. Cellulose is an organic compound. Cellulose is processed in lab, many chemicals are used in this step and muliplte enzymes are used for the chemical reactions. As a result of previous step, sugars are produced. Microbes are then added to sugar to produce ethanol. Ethanol is one of the main component in vehicle fuel. Vehicles such as cars, trucks and airplanes use this as fuel and produce carbon dioxide, which completes the cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses the main features of the diagram, outlining the circular process of ethanol production from sunlight and carbon dioxide to fuel combustion. The overview is evident in the introduction, though it is slightly brief. Key stages—such as plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing into cellulose, processing into sugars, adding microbes, and final ethanol use—are all reported in logical sequence. However, there are some minor descriptive additions not explicitly shown in the raw visual data (such as 'physical labour' or 'processed in lab, many chemicals are used'). Overall, all parts of the task are covered reasonably well, aligning with Band 6.5 to 7.0 criteria.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression following the steps of the cycle. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction from the body details, although the body could be split further into two paragraphs for better organisation of the pre-processing and post-processing stages. Cohesive devices are generally simple ('The plants and trees grow', 'The harvested crop then', 'As a result of previous step'), but they maintain the flow adequately. Referencing is mostly clear, though some transitional links are slightly mechanical, placing this within the Band 6.0 to 6.5 range.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'harvested', 'cellulose', 'organic compound', 'enzymes', and 'microbes'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('carbin' instead of carbon, 'muliplte' instead of multiple) and minor word-form slips ('It's production' instead of Its). Less common lexical items are attempted with mixed success. These lexical inaccuracies do not impede communication, placing the response solidly at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses and participial phrases ('Vehicles such as cars, trucks and airplanes use this as fuel and produce carbon dioxide, which completes the cycle'). There are several grammatical and punctuation errors, including a punctuation error in the opening sentence ('It's production starts...') and occasional article or pluralisation slips. Despite these errors, the structures are generally controlled and do not impede communication, supporting a Band 6.0 score.

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