Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The rendered diagram potrays the formation of a biofuel named ethanol .
Overall , it is ostensible that , this chart comprises of multifarious steps which begins with the growth of plant and trees and terminates with the use of ethanol in various vehicles ..
Firstly , the plants and trees are grown in presence of sunlight and carbon dioxide . Secondly , the plants and trees undergo harvesting and are further sent for the pre-processing . In the pre-processing , the cellulose is seperated which is utilised for the processing process .
Probing further , sugars are formed after the processing . After this , the sugars are combined with microbes . In the penultimate step , the mixture of sugars and microbes produces ethanol . Finally, the ethanol is used as a biofuel in numerous vehicles such as aeroplanes , trucks and cars .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The student attempts to describe all the stages of the biofuel production cycle, from the growth of plants and trees to the combustion of ethanol in vehicles and the subsequent release of carbon dioxide. However, the response falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 146 words. This results in a necessary penalty under the Task Achievement criteria. Furthermore, while the main steps are broadly outlined, the cyclical nature of the process and the role of carbon dioxide absorbed by plants from vehicle emissions are not fully or precisely integrated into the overview. The overview itself is rather basic ("this chart comprises of multifarious steps"). To achieve a higher band, the writer must meet the word count requirement and present a more fully developed, comprehensive summary of the key features and cyclical connections shown in the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is arranged logically with a clear introduction, body paragraphs detailing the sequential steps, and a concluding step. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different phases of the process. The student employs sequence markers such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Probing further', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the stages. However, some of these cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'Probing further'. Additionally, referencing and overall flow could be smoother. There are minor punctuation errors in spacing around full stops (e.g., 'vehicles ..'), which detracts slightly from the visual presentation, but overall cohesion is maintained at a functional level.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to the process such as 'biofuel', 'ethanol', 'harvesting', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'sugars', and 'microbes'. However, there is a spelling error ('potrays' instead of 'portrays', 'seperated' instead of 'separated'), and some word choices are overly simplistic or repetitive. The use of phrases like 'multifarious steps' shows an attempt to use less common vocabulary, but the overall lexical range remains limited. To improve, the student should focus on accurate spelling and incorporating more precise scientific or academic collocations relevant to process diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('which begins with...'). There are, however, several grammatical inaccuracies throughout the text. For example, 'in presence of sunlight' lacks an article ('in the presence of'), and 'comprises of' is incorrect ('comprises' does not take 'of'). There are also recurring punctuation and spacing issues, including double periods at the end of sentences and extra spaces before punctuation marks. Despite these errors, meaning is generally clear and communication is not severely impeded. The frequency of minor slips keeps the score at the band 6 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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