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 process illustrates how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.
Overall, the process consists of ten main stages and it is a cyclic process, beginning with absorption of energy and ending with release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere.
In the first, the plants and trees were grow by absroption of energy through mixture of sunlight and carbon dioxide. Next we see cultivated pants and trees undergoes harvesting by use of motor vehicles. Following this, harvested trees and plants goes to pre-processing at this stage plants conveted into tiny particles using cutting machines. After that, mixture of tiny partices forms cellulose. Which results in formation of cellulose through plants and trees.
In the next, cellulose underwent processing with different mixtures and forms sugars. Following this, microbes were added to formed sugars through processing. Finally addition of microbes results to formation of ethanol. Then obtained ethanol were used by different motor vehicles as a fuel in daily life. Through vehicles the release of carbon dioxide will be absrob. Released co2 into atmosphere again convert as a energy and again its absrob by plants and trees. following this, the cycle repeat again.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The candidate successfully addresses the prompt by summarising the main stages of the biofuel production cycle. An overview is provided, noting that the process has ten main stages and is cyclic. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the sequence and details of the process. For instance, the text states that 'plants and trees were grow by absroption of energy' and mentions that cellulose forms twice redundantly. Furthermore, the explanation of the carbon dioxide absorption cycle towards the end is slightly confused. Despite these minor misreadings and a lack of precise detail in places, all parts of the diagram are covered, earning a solid Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response is arranged logically into clear paragraphs, moving from an introduction and overview into the detailed chronological stages of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the first', 'Next we see', 'Following this', and 'Finally' are used to sequence the information. However, referencing and paragraph flow are sometimes mechanical or awkward, such as starting multiple sentences with 'In the next'. Paragraphing is present and generally appropriate, but the overall cohesion lacks the flexibility and fluency required for a higher band. This corresponds to a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms related to the diagram such as 'biofuel', 'ethanol', 'harvesting', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'sugars', and 'microbes'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'absroption', 'pants', 'conveted', 'partices', and 'absrob'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they restrict the lexical score. Less common vocabulary is attempted with some inaccuracy, placing the response firmly at Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The process illustrates how a biofuel called ethanol is produced' and 'Through vehicles the release of carbon dioxide will be absrob.' However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding verb tenses and passive voice structures (e.g., 'plants and trees were grow', 'cultivated pants and trees undergoes harvesting', 'ethanol were used'). Punctuation and sentence structure errors are common, which can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. These issues reflect the characteristics of Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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