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)
The diagram illustrates how a biofuel which is called ethanol is made by going through different steps.
Overall, the procedure starts from energy by sunlight and carbon dioxide and sunlight is a natural resource and after many steps ethanol is made. After the formation of ethanol it is used in many trasports and they produce carbon dioxide.
Plants and trees are grown by sunlight and carbon dioxide which give them energy and after that they grow up into plants and trees after that thay are harvested and go through pre process. In this process cellulose is made and this cellulose go in different labs for further process.
After processing in lab it become sugar and the sugar is added in microbes and ethanol is formed. Ethanol is used in vehicals like cars, trucks and planes which emits carbon dioxide and this carbon dioxide come in enviornment and give energy to growing plants and trees
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 cover the main stages of the process diagram, mentioning energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide, the growth of plants, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose creation, processing into sugars, adding microbes, and the final production of ethanol for transportation which releases carbon dioxide back into the cycle. However, the overview is rather simplistic and repetitive, simply stating that 'the procedure starts from energy... and after many steps ethanol is made.' Furthermore, some details lack precise interpretation of the diagram's cyclical nature, and the description of the various stages is somewhat rudimentary. Overall, the task is addressed, but the development and selection of main features are basic, aligning with a Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is organized into four paragraphs, attempting to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps. However, the logical progression is hindered by poor paragraphing and run-on sentences. For instance, the second paragraph awkwardly combines the overview with the transport emissions. Cohesive devices are repetitive and basic, relying heavily on 'after that' and 'and', which creates a mechanical flow. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, such as 'this cellulose go in different labs' without precise antecedent control. There is a lack of sophisticated logical sequencing or paragraph structuring, placing this performance at Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and repetitive, with frequent reliance on basic terms such as 'made', 'grow', 'process', and 'things'. There are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'trasports' for transport, 'vehicals' for vehicles, and 'enviornment' for environment. While the student attempts some topic-specific vocabulary like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'carbon dioxide', the overall range is narrow and minimally adequate for the task. The lexical control shows frequent errors that impede fluency, fitting the Band 5.0 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student relies heavily on simple sentences and coordinate clauses linked by 'and', resulting in long, run-on sentences with inadequate punctuation. For example, 'Plants and trees are grown by sunlight and carbon dioxide which give them energy and after that they grow up into plants and trees after that thay are harvested and go through pre process.' Attempts at complex structures are faulty, and there are frequent grammatical errors including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'this cellulose go', 'carbon dioxide come') and missing articles or prepositions. Grammatical control is weak, justifying a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.