Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

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

Overall, it is clear that it contains multiple stages, starting with trees growing 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 crushing machine by a tractor. The trees is then sent into a crusher, where they are broken down into smaller, powdered form and pre processing start.

Moving on, the pre process converts into cellulose. Then it passed through a process in the lab and convert into te fom of sugar. Where th process of making ethanol is finished and now the ethanol is ready to be distributed into transportion system such as, cars, trucks and aeroplanes. Finally, the vehicles generate carbon dioxide if they are in usage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, starting from plant growth through processing to distribution and carbon dioxide release. However, the overview provided is weak and speculative, particularly the ungrounded claim that "Skipping of any step can spoil the whole process." While the key features of the diagram are generally identified, the explanation lacks precise reporting of the cyclical nature and the environmental loop involving carbon dioxide. The development of ideas is somewhat limited and contains minor inaccuracies in tracing the exact pathway from cellulose to sugars and microbes. Consequently, this performance aligns best with Band 5.5, as it addresses the task partially with some underdeveloped and unclear descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text is divided into four paragraphs, providing a basic framework for the response. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as "To start with", "Moving on", and "Finally". However, referencing and logical transitions are occasionally faulty and mechanical, such as "the pre process converts into cellulose" and abrupt shifts between sentences. The overall progression lacks seamless connection, and paragraphing is underdeveloped due to very short paragraphs that group disparate ideas together. This level of organisation and cohesion sits comfortably at Band 5.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe basic industrial and natural processes with words like "harvested", "crushing machine", and "distribution". However, there are noticeable word choice and form errors throughout the text, such as "plants are grow" instead of "plants grow", "te fom" instead of "the form", and "transportion" instead of "transportation". Less common lexical items are attempted but often imprecise or misspelled, restricting the lexical score to Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response displays a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence forms, but grammatical accuracy is weak. Frequent errors impede readability and distort meaning at times, such as "energy which extracted form nature" (missing auxiliary verb and preposition error), "The trees is then sent" (subject-verb agreement error), and "Where th process of making ethanol is finished" (fragment sentence). Punctuation and article usage are also inconsistent. Given the high frequency of basic structural errors, the grammar falls into the Band 5.0 category.

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