Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-01

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)

This visual presentation illustrates the process of biofuel production by which ethanol is produced. This cyclic process has three major stages, starting with the growth of plants and trees. Afterwards, the second stage is the pre-processing of cellulose, where cellulose breaks down into sugar. Finally, ethanol is transported by vehicles, which emit carbon dioxide into the environment.

Firstly, plants and trees grow in the form of energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Those trees and plants are harvested for pre-processing. In pre-processing, cellulose is processed to obtain sugars. Microbes are added to the sugars. By this step, ethanol is prepared. That ethanol is ready to be transported by vehicles such as cars, tanks, and airplanes. These vehicles emit carbon dioxide into the environment.

In conclusion, those three stages are crucial in the process of ethanol. Sunlight and carbon dioxide help in the growth of plants and trees. Moreover, cellulose is processed in the form of sugars and then transported by vehicles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by outlining the main stages of the ethanol production process, but the coverage remains somewhat limited and mechanical. While the writer identifies key steps such as the growth of plants, harvesting, pre-processing of cellulose into sugars, adding microbes, and final transportation, the explanation lacks depth and detail. For instance, the transition from cellulose to sugars is mentioned briefly, and the cyclical nature of carbon dioxide release back into the atmosphere is under-developed in the main body. The overview in the conclusion merely restates points rather than synthesizing the overarching trends of the cycle. To reach a higher standard, the response would need to extend and fully develop all parts of the diagram with greater precision and clearer synthesis.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text demonstrates a basic overall arrangement with paragraphing used to separate the introduction, body steps, and conclusion. However, the progression of ideas feels somewhat mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on basic sequential connectors such as 'Firstly', 'Afterwards', and 'In conclusion'. Referencing within the text is occasionally imprecise; for example, phrases like 'those three stages' and 'in the form of energy' create awkward links that obscure the logical flow between the biological cycle and industrial processing. To improve cohesion, the writer should employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices and ensure that referencing between sentences is smoother and more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, providing an acceptable range of words related to the process, such as 'harvested', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'sugars', and 'microbes'. However, there are noticeable limitations and occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, stating that plants and trees grow 'in the form of energy' is unnatural, and mentioning 'tanks' alongside cars and airplanes reflects imprecise vocabulary choice when describing vehicles that run on fuel. To achieve a higher band, the writer must demonstrate a broader range of less common lexical items and use them with greater precision regarding collocation and style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a limited range of grammatical structures, relying predominantly on simple sentences and straightforward active voice constructions. While there are some attempts at complex forms, they are often basic or awkwardly phrased, such as 'This visual presentation illustrates the process of biofuel production by which ethanol is produced.' Errors in prepositions and modifiers occur, including 'grow in the form of energy' and 'processed in the form of sugars'. Although these errors rarely impede overall communication, the frequent reliance on simple sentence patterns prevents the text from demonstrating good control over a variety of complex structures.

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