Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-23
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 flow chart illustrates the multi-step procedure by which biofuel (ethanol) is made.
Overall, the process comprises 8 distinct stages, beginning with planting and growing the trees and finishing with production of fuel.
At the intial stage of the process, trees are being grown in the presence of sunlight and carbon dioxide. when trees reach to the maturity stage then they are being harvested with the use of machinery.After harvesting, tress go through pre-processing process where cellulose production happened.
Subsequently, the cellulose undergo processing in th
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response is severely under-length, containing only 86 words against the mandatory minimum of 150 words. Because it cuts off mid-sentence ('... cellulose undergo processing in th'), it fails to complete a description of the entire diagram cycle (omitting sugars, microbes, ethanol transport, and the carbon dioxide return loop). While the introduction and overview attempt to outline the process, the lack of completion and failure to meet the word count severely limits the task achievement. According to IELTS guidelines, under-length responses cannot achieve a band score above 5.0 for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The writing demonstrates a basic attempt at logical sequencing, starting with an introductory sentence and an overall summary statement. Cohesive devices such as 'At the intial stage', 'when trees reach', and 'After harvesting' are used to link the first few steps of the process. However, because the text cuts off abruptly mid-sentence, paragraphing and overall progression are incomplete. The logical flow is disrupted by the premature ending, meaning the text cannot be fully evaluated as a coherent whole.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate vocabulary range for the early stages of the description, including terms like 'multi-step procedure', 'distinct stages', 'maturity stage', and 'machinery'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('intial' instead of initial, 'tress' instead of trees) and awkward phrasing ('cellulose production happened'). The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive and basic, but it is minimally adequate for the sentences that were successfully completed before the text cut off.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The text contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'when trees reach to the maturity stage then they are being harvested...'. There are noticeable grammatical errors and awkward passive constructions ('trees are being grown', 'cellulose production happened', 'the cellulose undergo' where 'undergoes' is required). Punctuation and capitalization are occasionally flawed ('At the intial stage'). Although the student attempts complex forms, control is inconsistent and the response terminates prematurely.
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