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 production of biofuel call ethanol from raw materials such as plants and their products.
Overall, biofuel production requires total sixs steps, starting with plants growth.
To begin with, trees grow in farm with the help of sunlight and carbon dioxide. Both are use as energy sources. The next step is harvesting. In this, harvesting is done by mechanical way. In pre-processing step, harvesting trees part cut into small parts. In third step, cellulose extrates from small parts of plants. Furthermore, chemical prosess has been done on extracted cellulose. Moreover, with the help of various chemical sugars molecules separate from complex sugar form.
In addition, microorganisums use to convert sugar to ethanol with help of fermantation process. Biofule ethanol is by product of fermantation. In the last step, this ethanol use as fuel in several vehicals. Moreover, when vehicals generate carbon dioxide, it has been used by plants in photosynthesis process.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all key stages of the ethanol production cycle shown in the diagram, from plant growth and harvesting through pre-processing, cellulose extraction, chemical processing, fermentation, and ultimate use in vehicles which release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. An overview is successfully attempted, noting the total number of steps and the starting point. However, the explanation of certain steps is slightly simplified and contains minor inaccuracies regarding the precise flow of the process (e.g., confusing the direct sequence of cellulose and sugar extraction). Despite these minor descriptive lapses, the main features and cyclical nature of the process are clearly reported, fulfilling the core requirements of Task 1 for an adequate grade.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The text is arranged logically into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing the sequential steps of the diagram. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the process (e.g., 'To begin with', 'The next step', 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', 'In the last step'). However, some transitions and referencing feel mechanical or abrupt. Paragraphing is attempted, although the division between steps could be managed more fluidly. Overall, the essay maintains a clear overall arrangement and progression, meeting the criteria for Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student attempts a range of process-related vocabulary, including terms like 'harvesting', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'fermentation', and 'photosynthesis process'. However, there are numerous lexical and word-form errors throughout the text, such as 'production of biofuel call ethanol' (called), 'plants growth' (plant growth), 'are use' (are used), 'mechanical way' (mechanically), 'trees part' (tree parts), 'extrates' (extracts), 'prosess' (process), 'microorganisums' (microorganisms), and 'vehicals' (vehicles). These inaccuracies show a limited control of word formation and spelling, capping the lexical score at Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and passive structures (e.g., 'harvesting is done by mechanical way', 'sugar molecules separate'). However, grammatical accuracy is weak, featuring frequent errors in verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions (e.g., 'Both are use as energy sources', 'trees grow in farm', 'microorganisums use to convert', 'this ethanol use as fuel'). While these errors do not completely obscure the overall meaning of the process, they occur with high frequency and impede fluent reading, placing the grammar at a Band 5 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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