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 cyclic procees of biofuel production.
Overall, biofuel production involves several stages starting with the harvesting of the plants or trees and ending with the production of ethanol by adding microbes into sugar. Carbondioxide that plants utilize generates from burning of fuel in vehices.
Plants gain energy in the form of carbondioxide and sunlight for their development and growth. In next stage, harvesting of plants occur, followed by their pre-processing. As a result, celloluse produces. Furthermore, processing of cellulose takes place in laboratary to make compounds of sugar.
To produce ethanol, microbes are added to the sugar compounds. Consequently, the ethanol used as a fuel in transportation vehicles such as, in trucks, in cars and in aeroplanes.
Large amounts of carbondioxide produces by the burning of fuel from vehicles that then used by plants for growth.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student has successfully outlined the main stages of the biofuel production cycle, beginning with the growth and harvesting of plants, through pre-processing, cellulose extraction, sugar conversion, and microbe addition, to the final creation and use of ethanol. An overview is present, and key features such as the cyclical nature of carbon dioxide absorption and release are correctly identified. However, the response falls below the required 150-word minimum, containing only 139 words. Because of this length penalty, the score is capped at Band 5.5, despite the content accurately covering the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is arranged with an identifiable logical sequence, following the stages of the diagram from start to finish. Paragraphing is attempted, grouping the introduction, middle process, and conclusion reasonably well. Cohesive devices are used to link steps (e.g., 'In next stage', 'Furthermore', 'To produce ethanol'), though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or awkward. Referencing is mostly clear, but the overall organization lacks the sophisticated flow and seamless progression expected at higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing a simple industrial and natural process, utilizing terms such as 'cyclic process', 'harvesting', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. However, there are noticeable spelling errors ('procees', 'Carbondioxide', 'celloluse', 'laboratary') and occasional word-formation or collocation lapses (e.g., 'celloluse produces' instead of 'cellulose is produced', 'Carbondioxide that plants utilize generates from'). These errors prevent the score from reaching a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and adverbials of sequence. However, control over grammar and active/passive voice is inconsistent. There are several grammatical inaccuracies, notably missing articles ('in transportation vehicles such as, in trucks, in cars and in aeroplanes') and persistent issues with passive voice formation ('carbondioxide produces by the burning' instead of 'carbon dioxide is produced'). While communication is not severely impeded, these frequent errors restrict the score to Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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