Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-18
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 depicts the process of how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.
Overall, the procedure involves multiple steps, leading to the production of ethanol.The very most important stage for this process is when renewable sources are converted into chemicals. There are total 7 steps, among from which third and fifth are the major stages. And this a reversible cycle.
The process begins with by harvesting the plants and trees. Now in the next step, the crops which are harvested start to become pre-processed through machine into a small pieces. After that, it converts into a cellulose form and then go for the chemical process, where the solid materials transform into liquid form. In the next stage this liquid material turned into a sugar.
After the fourth stage, the sugar is mixed with the microbes to form an ethanol. And in the final stage, the ethanol is ready for the production. The vehicles which used ethanol released a C02 and then the process still continues in a reversible direction.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The student attempts to summarise the process of ethanol production, but the response falls short in accurately capturing the details and flow of the visual data. While the general cycle is mentioned, some descriptions are inaccurate or confusing, such as claiming there are 'total 7 steps' and inventing specific major stages like 'third and fifth'. Furthermore, the overview paragraph attempts to outline main features, but it contains vague and unsupported generalisations rather than a clear summary of the key stages (sunlight/growth, processing, ethanol production, and carbon dioxide absorption). The description of the pre-processing stage as cutting crops 'into a small pieces' and the confusion regarding how sugars and microbes interact show partial misunderstanding of the diagram. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially, warranting a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into brief paragraphs, but the overall progression lacks smooth logical flow. While basic cohesive devices are used (e.g., 'Overall', 'The process begins with', 'After that'), some transitions are awkward or incorrect, such as 'among from which' and 'Now in the next step'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in 'this a reversible cycle' and abrupt paragraph breaks that disrupt the coherence of the description. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of sentences feels disjointed, particularly in the body paragraphs where steps are jumbled. This places the response firmly in the Band 5 range for Coherence and Cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is quite limited and repetitive, with noticeable errors in word choice and collocation. Examples include 'very most important stage', 'a small pieces' (grammatical error in collocation), 'turns into a sugar', and 'the vehicles which used ethanol released a C02'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary such as 'renewable sources' and 'reversible cycle', but inaccuracy in their application restricts the score. Spelling is generally acceptable, but basic lexical limitations and frequent phrasing errors mean the vocabulary is only minimally adequate for the task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is weak throughout the text. There are frequent errors in articles, pluralisation, and prepositional use, such as 'There are total 7 steps, among from which', 'begins with by harvesting', 'into a small pieces', and 'the vehicles which used ethanol released a C02'. Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency also pose problems (e.g., 'it converts into a cellulose form and then go'). Because these frequent errors cause occasional difficulty for the reader and simple structures dominate, a Band 5.0 is appropriate.
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