Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-29
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 4.0)
The diagram illustrats that produced a biofuel called ethanol.
Overall the diagram shows that a strat the energy and the end in the process of the carbon dioxide.
The first step in the diagram from of sunlight full on the plants and trees grow and the second step is harvesting. The third step in the diagram show that a preprocessing and the fourth step is from of cellulose. The fifth step is from of preprocessing and sixth process is sugars.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 3.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 80 words in total. Consequently, the information is severely underdeveloped. While the student attempts to describe the diagram by mentioning steps like sunlight, harvesting, preprocessing, and cellulose, the overview is extremely fragmented and does not adequately summarise the main features of the biofuel production cycle. Furthermore, critical stages such as the addition of microbes, the creation of ethanol, and the release of carbon dioxide are largely omitted or poorly explained. This falls short of the task requirements and results in a low band score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
The response lacks clear paragraphing and overall logical progression. The sentences are disjointed and rely heavily on repetitive, mechanical transitions such as 'The first step', 'the second step', and 'The third step'. There is no clear separation between the introduction, body description, and overview. Additionally, referencing is faulty, leading to confusion in how the steps connect. For example, the phrase 'the fourth step is from of cellulose' does not logically follow the sequence of the process. Cohesive devices are minimal and improperly used, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of information.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is extremely basic, repetitive, and restricted. The writer relies on simple words like 'diagram', 'step', and 'plants'. There are frequent lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'The diagram illustrats that produced a biofuel' and 'from of cellulose', which stem from incorrect word formation and a lack of collocation awareness. The range of vocabulary is inadequate for an Academic Task 1 response, failing to demonstrate the ability to use less common items or precise descriptive terms suitable for a scientific process diagram.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 3.5
The grammatical structures used are very limited, with frequent and severe errors that impede communication. The writing contains basic sentence structure failures, such as missing verbs or incorrect verb forms in 'The diagram illustrats that produced' and 'a strat the energy'. Sentences are often incomplete or grammatically non-sensical, such as 'and the end in the process of the carbon dioxide.' There is a total lack of control over complex sentence forms, and basic subject-verb agreement or prepositional errors occur in almost every sentence.
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