Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-21
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 here shows how biofuel called ethanol is produced and we will discuss about this in detail by looking and reporting it's main features.
The process starts with sunlight and carbondioxide gas to impact the growth of plants and trees after the enough growth of these plants and trees the harvesting process starts in which the farmers has an important role, after harvesting it then goes into pre-processing phase where they harvest these plants and extract cellulose from them.
After extracting cellulose they went to another processing stage in the laboratory where cellulose convert into sugars and then the next stage is to add microbes in the sugars to make ethanol as we can see in the diagram.
Once ethanol is made then it can be used for various purposes and the main and important one is for automobiles as cars, bikes, trucks and airplanes use ethanol for refueling.
When these things run in roads or air they produce carbondioxide gas which then trees and plants used to help create ethanol so it is a visious circle.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student attempts to describe the process of ethanol production shown in the diagram, covering the main stages from sunlight and plant growth to harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose extraction, sugar conversion, and the addition of microbes. However, the response includes conversational and meta-language in the introduction ('The diagram here shows... and we will discuss about this in detail'), which detracts from an academic tone. Furthermore, some descriptions are slightly imprecise or colloquial, such as referring to the cycle as a 'visious circle'. While all key steps of the circular process are mentioned, the lack of a proper overview and the presence of informal framing keep this response at Band 5.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is organized into five paragraphs, but the paragraphing is erratic, with single sentences forming paragraphs or run-on sentences dominating. Cohesive devices are repetitive and basic, relying heavily on 'after', 'then', and 'and' to chain clauses together without clear subordination or logical progression. For instance, the sentence 'After extracting cellulose they went to another processing stage...' uses weak referencing and lacks proper punctuation. Although an overall progression from plant growth to ethanol use and carbon dioxide recycling is discernible, the faulty mechanical cohesion and poor punctuation significantly impede the flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for a basic description of the diagram, including terms like 'sunlight', 'harvesting', 'cellulose', 'sugars', and 'microbes'. However, there are notable word choice errors and misspellings, such as 'carbondioxide' (written as one word), 'visious' instead of 'vicious', and awkward phrasing like 'impact the growth' and 'automobiles as cars, bikes, trucks'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and attempts at less common items result in inaccuracies. The lexical control is generally at a Band 5.0 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response features a heavy reliance on long, run-on sentences connected by coordinating conjunctions (e.g., 'after the enough growth of these plants and trees the harvesting process starts in which the farmers has an important role, after harvesting it then goes...'). There are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('farmers has', 'trees and plants used'), missing articles, and punctuation neglect (run-on sentences without full stops). While some complex structures are attempted, they are frequently faulty, restricting the grammatical score to Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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