Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 diagram depicts the information about the formation of a biofuel called as ethanol, which is used as a fuel in vehicles.

Overall, the production of ethanol formed a continuous closed loop consists of several steps, such as plants absorb energy, harvesting of plants, pre- processing in industries to form cellulose, sugar formation, which leads to formation the ethanol.

In the first stage, plants and trees grow by absorbing energy from sunlight from the atmosphere. Once fully grown, these plants are harvested and transported to industries, where pre-processing occur and they broken down into cellulose.

The next step involves in which cellulose is converted into sugar. In sugar, microbes are added, and after addition of microbes, the formation of ethanol takes place. This ethanol is used in different types of vehicles and produced carbon dioxide in the environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a cycle and describe the main conversion stages, from plant growth and harvesting through cellulose and sugars to ethanol. However, some details are incomplete or unsupported: the diagram shows sunlight and carbon dioxide supporting plant growth, but you mention only sunlight; it also shows carbon dioxide released by vehicles and returned to the plants, which is not explained. The claim that harvested plants are “transported to industries” is not shown. The overview lists stages but could more clearly summarise the cycle’s defining feature, including carbon dioxide recycling. The response is also 11 words below the required minimum. Add the missing carbon-dioxide loop and describe only what the diagram presents.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall sequence, with an opening, an overview and a chronological account of the stages. Linking expressions such as “In the first stage,” “Once fully grown” and “The next step” help the reader follow the process. However, the final stage is not connected back to the beginning, so the circular nature of the diagram is only partly conveyed. Some transitions are awkward or repetitive, particularly “In sugar, microbes are added, and after addition of microbes.” Organise the final paragraph to show the progression from sugars to microbes and ethanol, then explain how vehicle emissions return to plant growth. This would make the progression more complete and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes” and “formation,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “formation of a biofuel,” “called as ethanol,” “sugar formation” and “produced carbon dioxide in the environment.” “Sugar” should also be expressed as “sugars,” matching the diagram. Repetition of “formation” limits the range, while “industries” is less precise than the diagram’s processing stage. Aim for accurate process verbs and natural collocations, for example, “ethanol is produced,” “cellulose is converted into sugars,” and “vehicles release carbon dioxide.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which is used as a fuel in vehicles” and a time clause beginning “Once fully grown.” However, several errors affect control: “the production of ethanol formed a continuous closed loop consists” has faulty tense and clause structure; “pre-processing occur” lacks subject–verb agreement; and “they broken down” is missing an auxiliary. The phrase “leads to formation the ethanol” also has an incomplete grammatical pattern. Use consistent present simple for a process diagram and check articles, agreement and passive forms—for example, “the plants are broken down into cellulose.” More accurate sentence construction would make the sequence easier to read.

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