Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-20
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 process diagram illustrates the production process of a biofuel known as ethanol.
Overall, this is a cyclic process and runs continuously with approximately seven major stages. The first step is the release of carbon dioxide from automobiles to the environment while the last step is addition of microbes to sugar to convert it into ethanol.
Firstly, carbon dioxide from men-made things like aircrafts, trucks and cars is emitted to the environment. This gas and sunlight is necessary for the growth of plants and trees. These plants and trees are harvested with the help of tractors and transported to pre-processing machines that cut plants in different sizes. Next, biomass especially cellulose is separated. This cellulose is processed in plants to make sugar from it. Finally some micro-organisms called microbes are added to the sugar to convert it chemically into ethanol which is a biofuel also called biodiesel and used in engines for different purposes. Regarding the nature of work in different stages, the last three stages i-e processing in plants, sugar production and addition of microbes, are industrial whereas the remaining stages does not involve much indutrial processes.
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 provides an overview of the diagram by identifying it as a cyclic process with approximately seven major stages. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the sequence and key features of the diagram. For instance, the student states that the first step is the release of carbon dioxide from automobiles, whereas the diagram sequence logically starts with energy and plant growth, and carbon dioxide is actually the end product used by growing plants. Additionally, the description misses some precise details of the intermediary steps while introducing outside interpretation in the final paragraph regarding industrial versus non-industrial nature. Nonetheless, the main purpose and overall mechanism of ethanol production are addressed, earning a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and a detailed body paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Next', and 'Finally' are used to sequence the stages of the process, though referencing is occasionally faulty or mechanical, such as when the student refers to the stages as running continuously starting with carbon dioxide emission. Paragraphing is attempted, but grouping all the detailed steps into a single large block makes the text slightly difficult to follow. Logical progression is present overall, but the transitions and referencing could be smoother and more precise, placing this at a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'biomass', 'cellulose', 'micro-organisms', and 'chemically'. There are some lexical inaccuracies and non-standard collocations, such as 'men-made things' instead of 'man-made sources' or 'vehicles', and spelling or word-choice slips like 'indutrial'. However, the vocabulary used is sufficient to communicate the main steps of the diagram without severely impeding the reader's understanding, fitting the Band 6.0 descriptor well.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('a biofuel also called biodiesel and used in engines') and conditional/descriptive phrasing. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement errors ('the remaining stages does not involve') and minor prepositional or article slips. Despite these errors, meaning is generally clear and communication is not seriously impeded, which aligns with Band 6.0 standards.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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