Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-06

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 question states that how ethanol is made, so basically it is a type of recycling. The process is not easy as it seems. The first step to acheive ethanol is to grow plants which obviously use carbon dioxide to live, dispite carbon dioxide sunlight is also a crucial factor for them to grow. So when the plants are fully grown, the harvesters then harvest the plants and send them for pre-processing. In this step plants are send to a machine which extracts the cellulose from the harvested plants. The cellulose are then being send for further processing. In these processes the cellulose then converts into sugar in which processors add microbes. Finally after all these processes the harvested plants turns into ethanol which is widely used in current era. Ethanol is used in cars, trucks and aeroplanes to move them. I stated earlier that its somehow a kind of recycling so its not actual example of recycling but when ethanol is used for any purpose for example use in car so the car produces some gas while its moving, that gas is called Carbon Dioxide which is a crucial factor of plants to live. 99% of plants would not be able to survive without carbon dioxide. Ths was my vision of explaining this diagram.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages from plant growth and harvesting through processing to ethanol, and you mention its use in cars, trucks and aeroplanes. However, the account only partially reports the diagram: it does not clearly explain that cellulose is converted into sugars before microbes are added, and it incorrectly suggests that processors add microbes during the conversion to sugar. The key cyclical feature—carbon dioxide released by transport returning to support plant growth—is mentioned, but is buried in personal commentary and unsupported claims such as “99% of plants” needing it. A more objective overview should state that ethanol production forms a cycle, then describe the stages and the carbon-dioxide loop accurately, without adding information not shown.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response follows a broadly chronological order, using markers such as “The first step,” “So when,” and “Finally,” which helps the reader follow the process. However, it is presented as one long paragraph, and the progression becomes unclear when the description shifts into personal commentary: “I stated earlier that its somehow a kind of recycling” and “Ths was my vision.” Some linking phrases are repetitive or awkward, while references such as “In these processes” do not clearly identify a particular stage. Group the stages into a clear introduction/overview and a body description, and use precise links between each input and output. This would create a more consistent progression rather than a sequence interrupted by asides.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “harvest,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “carbon dioxide,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are informal, imprecise, or repetitive: “basically,” “not easy as it seems,” “somehow a kind of recycling,” and repeated uses of “processes.” There are also spelling errors such as “acheive,” “dispite,” and “Ths,” which reduce accuracy. Some wording does not describe the diagram precisely; for example, “harvested plants turns into ethanol” skips the intermediate stages. Use more exact process verbs and nouns, and avoid conversational or evaluative phrases that do not belong in a factual report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and subordinate clauses, for example, “when the plants are fully grown, the harvesters then harvest the plants and send them for pre-processing.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur frequently enough to make parts of the description awkward. Examples include “The question states that how ethanol is made,” “plants are send,” “The cellulose are,” and “the harvested plants turns,” which show problems with clause structure, verb forms, and subject–verb agreement. The sentence beginning “I stated earlier” also becomes difficult to follow because several ideas are joined together. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions (“are sent,” “is converted”) and check agreement and sentence boundaries. A wider range of structures will help once these basic patterns are more reliable.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.