Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-19

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 4.0)

The supplied diagram illustrates the step by step process from usage energy sunlight and carbon dioxide to transform in ethanol.

Overall, In start formation of sunlight and energy directly effect to plants and trees also formers harvest those crops while pre-processing those material. Moveover, involvement of few camicals made ethanol.

Firstly, for making ethanol sunlight and carbon dioxide is primary object to formation also those are support to making plants and crops While, formers harvesting those crops also pre-processing system start also cellulose form making. Futhermore, procssing of ethanol in mid stage. After processing sugars making process and microboes added those process at the end ethanol is ma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, coming in at only 108 words. Consequently, this leads to an automatic penalty under Task Achievement. While the student attempts to describe the circular process of ethanol production, the summary is incomplete and trails off abruptly at the end ('at the end ethanol is ma...'). The overview is extremely fragmented and lacks a clear, coherent summary of the main stages (such as plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose formation, processing into sugars, addition of microbes, and the release of carbon dioxide). Due to the severe under-length and incomplete development, the response falls into the lower bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The text suffers significantly from a lack of logical progression and proper paragraphing. The introduction and subsequent body attempts are fractured into short, disjointed fragments rather than cohesive sentences and paragraphs. Transitional phrases like 'Firstly', 'Futhermore', and 'Moveover' are used, but they fail to establish clear logical links because the surrounding grammar and syntax are heavily compromised. Furthermore, referencing is weak, and the abrupt ending of the text shows a complete breakdown in organisational structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is extremely basic and repetitive, featuring frequent errors in word choice, form, and spelling (e.g., 'formers' instead of 'farmers', 'camicals' instead of 'chemicals', 'microboes' instead of 'microbes', 'procssing' instead of 'processing'). There is almost no evidence of less common lexical items used accurately. Lexical control is weak throughout, and word formation errors frequently strain the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

Grammatical control is very poor throughout the response. The text contains numerous severe grammatical errors, missing verbs, and incorrect word classes (e.g., 'usage energy sunlight and carbon dioxide to transform in ethanol', 'sunlight and carbon dioxide is primary object to formation'). Sentence structures are heavily flawed, and there are virtually no error-free sentences. Punctuation is also problematic, and the response ends mid-sentence.

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

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