Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-22

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)

Such a representation demostrate a production of ethanol. In this diagram shows that how ethanol is made and from the first setp to the final step and it also shows that how various mode of transport contribute to the production of ethanol.

First of all, the source of raw material are plants and trees. Harvesting of trees and plants are happen in the second step and then goes into pre-processing, where we get cellulose as the final result of step 3. Then those cellulose feed into the main processing, where we get sugar and then adds microbes to form the final product ethanol. The use of ethanol is mainly for transportion, and engins of various mode of transportaion release carbon dioxide gas into the air. It causes many environmental problems, but it also helps into the production of ethanol as plants and trees absorbe carbon dioxide from air, where the conrtibution of transportaion to realease carbon dioxide into the air.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to cover the main stages of the biofuel production diagram, moving from plants and trees through harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose extraction, and processing into sugars, before microbes are added to create ethanol. However, the explanation misinterprets key parts of the cycle, particularly the role of transportation and carbon dioxide. The student claims that various modes of transport contribute to the production of ethanol, whereas the diagram shows that ethanol is used by transport and that the resulting carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by plants to fuel the growth cycle. Consequently, the overview is weak, and the reporting of the cyclical relationship is confused, aligning the response with a Band 5 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is divided into two short paragraphs, with the first acting as an introduction and the second attempting to describe the sequence of the process. While basic cohesive devices are used to sequence events (e.g., 'First of all', 'then', 'after'), referencing and logical progression are frequently faulty. For instance, the phrase 'where we get cellulose as the final result of step 3' disrupts the flow, and the transition into the discussion of carbon dioxide lacks logical cohesion, making the overall progression difficult to follow at times. Paragraphing is also rudimentary, limiting the response to a Band 5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, with frequent misspellings and inappropriate word choices. Examples include 'demostrate' instead of 'demonstrate', 'setp' instead of 'step', 'transportion' instead of 'transportation', and 'engins' instead of 'engines'. The student attempts some less common topic-specific vocabulary such as 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', and 'microbes', but lexical control is weak throughout. Word formation and spelling errors ('absorbe', 'conrtibution', 'realease') are noticeable and occasionally cause strain for the reader, placing the response firmly at Band 5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex or compound structures are consistently marred by errors in subject-verb agreement and prepositional use. Examples of grammatical errors include 'Such a representation demostrate' (plurality mismatch), 'In this diagram shows that how' (unnecessary preposition and redundant relative structure), 'Harvesting of trees and plants are happen' (incorrect passive/active tense blend), and 'helps into the production' (incorrect preposition). These frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader and reflect Band 4-5 performance, landing at a solid 4.5.

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

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