Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30

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 given process chart illustrates the information regarding how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Overall, it is clear that it contain multiple-stages, starting with trees grow and ending with supply of ethanol. Skipping of any step can spoil the whole process.

To start with, plants are grow with the help of energy which extracted form nature. After that, the plants are harvested by the workers and then transferred to a crusher machine by a tractor. The trees is then sent into a crusher, where it is broken down into smaller, powdered form and pre processing start.

Moving on, the pre process convert into cellulose. Then it passed through a process in the lab and convert into te fom of sugar. Where th process of makeing ethanol is finish and now the ethanol is ready to distributed into transporation system such as, car, truck and airoplanes. Finally, the vehicles generate carbon dioxide if they come under the usage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response attempts to summarise the main features of the biofuel production cycle, but it fails to meet the requirements of a clear, accurate Academic Task 1 report. While the opening statement acknowledges the process chart, the overview is poorly articulated ('it contain multiple-stages, starting with trees grow and ending with supply of ethanol'). The student misses critical cyclical relationships shown in the diagram, such as the carbon dioxide loop returning to plants, and introduces unsubstantiated personal opinions or inaccuracies ('Skipping of any step can spoil the whole process'). Furthermore, several stages are misreported or confused, such as the transition from pre-processing to cellulose and sugars. The description is underdeveloped and lacks a comprehensive overview of the entire closed-loop system, placing it firmly at band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is organised into four paragraphs, which provides a basic structural framework. However, progression is frequently disrupted by awkward phrasing, unclear referencing, and faulty mechanical cohesive devices (e.g., 'To start with', 'Moving on'). The referencing within and between sentences is often confusing, such as 'the pre process convert into cellulose' followed abruptly by 'Then it passed through a process in the lab'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal logical flow breaks down due to sentence fragments and run-on thoughts. While there is a recognisable beginning, middle, and end, the overall arrangement lacks the clear logical progression expected for higher bands. This performance aligns with band 5.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic, repetitive, and heavily reliant on direct lifting or awkward paraphrasing from the prompt (e.g., 'process chart', 'ethanol', 'trees', 'crusher'). There are numerous word choice and word formation errors throughout the text, such as 'contain' instead of 'contains', 'extracted form' instead of 'extracted from', 'te fom' instead of 'the form', 'makeing' instead of 'making', and 'airopλανes' (aeroplanes). Less common lexical items are attempted but used inaccurately or unnaturally (e.g., 'supply of ethanol', 'distributed into transporation system'). These noticeable lexical limitations and spelling errors cause some difficulty for the reader, fitting the band 5.0 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures, consisting mostly of simple and attempted complex sentences that are heavily flawed. There is a high frequency of basic grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('trees grow', 'plants are grow', 'The trees is then sent', 'the ethanol are ready'), incorrect verb forms ('is finish' instead of 'is finished', 'to distributed' instead of 'to be distributed'), and missing articles. Punctuation and preposition use are also weak (e.g., 'into transporation system'). These persistent errors frequently impede communication and strain the reader, reflecting the characteristics of a band 4.5 or 5.0 response.

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

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