Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-09

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 diagram illustrates the production of Bio-Fuel process by which ethanol is created.

Overall, The process contains seven stages starting from planting and growing trees and ends with the addition of microbes into the sugars and Carbon-Dioxide plays a vital role in the full process.

At first plants and trees takes sunlight and cabon dioxide from nature as a source of energy and grow rapidly. After plants are grown the crops are harversted by farmers with farming equipments. Then these crops are processed further in the pre-processing stage and after that we get the cellulose as a result of pre-processing and it then goes to factories where chemicals are being used to turn the cellulose into micro units named as sugars. At last stage microbes were introduced in order to create Ethanol. Ethanol is used in various types of land and Air vehicles for land vehicles like Cars, Trucks and for Planes etc.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a production process and include several relevant stages, from plant growth and harvesting through pre-processing, cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol. However, the overview is inaccurate: it says there are seven stages and that the process ends with microbes being added, whereas the diagram shows a cycle that continues through ethanol use in transport and carbon dioxide returning to support plant growth. The description also adds unsupported details, such as farmers using equipment and chemicals turning cellulose into sugars. To strengthen the response, give an accurate overview of the full cycle, then report the key stages and the carbon-dioxide link without inventing how the processing works.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence, using markers such as “At first,” “After,” “Then,” and “At last,” so the reader can follow the main production stages. The paragraphing into an introduction, overview and process description also gives it some structure. However, progression is incomplete because the account stops after ethanol is used in vehicles and does not explain the return of carbon dioxide to the plants. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly the long sentence beginning “Then these crops are processed further,” which combines several stages and explanations. Organise the process into clearer steps and use linking phrases to show the cycle, not just a one-way sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “sugars,” “microbes” and “ethanol,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also some attempt to vary wording with phrases such as “as a source of energy” and “introduced in order to create.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, including “production … process,” “micro units named as sugars,” and “land and Air vehicles.” Spelling errors such as “cabon” and “harversted,” along with inconsistent capitalisation of “Bio-Fuel” and “Carbon-Dioxide,” reduce accuracy. Aim for concise, standard process language and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence of clauses describing pre-processing and the conversion to sugars. However, control is uneven, and errors occur in basic sentence patterns as well as in longer structures. For example, “plants and trees takes” has subject–verb disagreement, while “the process contains seven stages starting from planting and growing trees and ends” has an inconsistent grammatical construction. The sentence beginning “Ethanol is used in various types…” is also incomplete or awkwardly joined. Use shorter, clearly formed sentences when describing each stage, and check agreement, tense consistency, articles and punctuation before combining clauses.

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