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 dagram illustrates the cyclical process about the production of ethanol and shows the step-by-step process.

Overall, plants and trees take their energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Next, then human harvested those plants and send it to the industrial sector, where it converts into the sugar. Next, then ethanol is produced and this cycle repeats itself.

Plants and crops grow by taking their energy from the sunlight. After this, human harvested those crops and send it into the machine for pre-processing. Next, then machine converts it into cellulose form. Next, then it goes to the industrial sector for further processing. The industry coverts thoses celluose into sugar. After this, microbes are added into the sugar. Next, then ethanol is produced, furthermore, it fules the different vehilces like car and planes.

Next, the vehicles produced carbon dioxide and it goes into the air. After this, the whole process will continued again. The carbon dioxide not only goes into the air, but, it reused by this whole process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The candidate attempts to summarise the diagram illustrating the cyclical production of ethanol. While the overall process is outlined from plant growth through harvesting, processing, and microbe addition to ethanol use and carbon dioxide release, the response lacks depth and accurate reporting of all key features. For instance, important stages such as pre-processing and cellulose formation are mentioned briefly, but the description remains overly simplistic and repetitive. Furthermore, the overview provided in the second paragraph is underdeveloped and does not fully capture the cyclical nature and key transitions of the process. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially, aligning with the descriptors for Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is divided into short paragraphs, attempting to structure the information logically. However, the progression of ideas is frequently disrupted by repetitive transitions such as 'Next, then' and 'After this'. Cohesive devices are mechanically overused and often inaccurate, creating a choppy and disjointed reading experience. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal organization of sentences lacks smooth logical links and appropriate referencing. These weaknesses in cohesion and paragraph structure reflect the characteristics of Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with frequent reliance on simple terms like 'plants', 'crops', 'sugar', and 'ethanol'. There are noticeable lexical errors, such as misspelling 'diagram' ('dagram'), incorrect verb forms ('human harvested'), and awkward phrasing ('coverts thoses celluose', 'fules the different vehilces'). The range of vocabulary is limited and minimally adequate for the task, causing some difficulty for the reader and fitting the criteria for Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response shows a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences are simple or poorly constructed attempts at complex forms, frequently marred by tense inconsistencies (e.g., 'human harvested... and send it') and subject-verb agreement errors. Punctuation is also problematic, including unnecessary commas (e.g., 'not only goes into the air, but, it reused'). Frequent grammatical errors cause noticeable difficulty for the reader, placing the performance firmly in the Band 5.0 category.

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

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