Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-28

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 explained the features related to theethanol production and it's complete cycle.

Overall, the diagram have several features and functions, from taking energy from sunlight by plants and trees, humans harvested those plants and machines convert it into cellolose, moreover, convert it into sugar. Microbes added to the sugar, their ethanol produced.

The whole cycle has a complete process regarding to the production of ethanol. Plants and trees growth held by sunlight and carbon dioxide, after the growth of crops humans are haresting it, moreover, it goes to pre-processing their it convert into cellulose. The cellulose processing in the industry sector, where it makes sugar, furthermore, addition of microbes into sugar, then ethanol is produced. The ethanol putted into different vehicles like cars and planes where it produced cabon dioxide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the biofuel production cycle shown in the diagram, covering major stages such as plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing into cellulose, processing into sugars, and adding microbes to produce ethanol. However, the response falls significantly short of the minimum word count requirement, containing only 131 words compared to the mandated 150 words. This under-length impacts the overall development of the response. Furthermore, some descriptions are imprecise or grammatically strained, such as describing how 'the ethanol putted into different vehicles... where it produced cabon dioxide.' Due to the under-length penalty and incomplete expansion of the visual details, this performance aligns with Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text attempts a logical progression by following the circular cycle of ethanol production from start to finish. Paragraphing is attempted, splitting the introduction, an overview, and the body stages. However, the organisation is mechanical and cohesive devices are poorly managed or repetitive, such as the overuse of 'moreover' and commas to link independent clauses (comma splices). Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'their it convert into cellulose' and 'their ethanol produced.' Because cohesion is frequently faulty and paragraphing is underdeveloped, the response achieves a Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student uses a limited and repetitive range of vocabulary directly lifted or slightly adapted from the prompt, such as 'ethanol production', 'plants and trees', 'harvested', and 'carbon dioxide'. There are notable spelling and word-choice errors, including 'theethanol' (spacing error), 'cellolose' (misspelling of cellulose), 'haresting' (misspelling of harvesting), 'putted' (incorrect verb choice for 'put' or 'placed'), and 'cabon dioxide' (misspelling). Less common lexical items are attempted but executed inaccurately, restricting the vocabulary score to Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex or passive constructions are consistently flawed, such as 'Plants and trees growth held by sunlight' and 'where it produced cabon dioxide.' There are frequent errors in verb forms, tense consistency, prepositions, and sentence boundaries (e.g., comma splices like 'Microbes added to the sugar, their ethanol produced'). These errors cause frequent difficulty for the reader and reflect a weak control of basic grammar, placing the grammar score at Band 5.0.

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