Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-11

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 diagram shows the process of making ethanol as a biofuel . The stages of biofuel starts from planting trees to harvesting then processed it to make a ethanol for further use.

Overall, it has been seen that energy sources like sunlight and carbon dioxide is essential for the production of ethanol and by adding microbes into make it useful for further use.

In the first stage, harvesting of plants and trees are included which further followed by pre processing of making cellulose . Harvested tress put in the machine to cut into small pieces and put them into the processing stage.

After processing of the trees, the prcoseed tress become sugar . Additional microbes are putting into sugar for rich nutrients. Then ethanol is useful for further use and can be put as a biofuel in the vehicles. Vehicle leads to carbon emission.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the topic and mention several relevant stages, including harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing, sugars, microbes and ethanol. However, the account only partially covers the process: it omits the initial growth of plants using sunlight and carbon dioxide, and does not explain the cycle in which carbon dioxide from transport returns to support plant growth. The overview is also unclear and inaccurately suggests that microbes make the fuel “useful”; the diagram shows microbes being added to sugars before ethanol is produced. Some details, such as trees being cut into small pieces, are not stated in the visual. The response is 144 words, below the required 150. Include the full cycle and clarify the stages and their relationships.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to descriptions of later stages. Sequencing words such as “In the first stage,” “After processing,” and “Then” help the reader follow parts of the process. However, progression is incomplete: the account begins with harvesting rather than plant growth, and the final sentence does not connect carbon dioxide emissions back to the plants, leaving the cycle unfinished. Some links are also unclear, as in “which further followed by pre processing,” and the overview repeats the idea of ethanol being for “further use.” Organise the stages in the diagram’s order and use clear links to show how each output becomes the next input.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “cellulose,” “processing,” “sugar,” “microbes,” and “carbon emission,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate or imprecise, which sometimes makes the process difficult to interpret. For example, “rich nutrients” does not describe the role of microbes in the diagram, and “carbon emission” is less accurate than the diagram’s repeated label, “carbon dioxide.” There are also spelling errors such as “tress” and “prcoseed,” and awkward phrases such as “put in the machine.” Use precise process terms and check spelling; for example, describe material as being “converted into sugars” and microbes as being “added to the sugars.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentence forms, such as “After processing of the trees, the prcoseed tress become sugar,” but control is inconsistent and errors occur frequently. Examples include subject–verb disagreement in “the stages … starts” and “energy sources … is,” missing or incorrect articles in “a ethanol,” and faulty passive constructions such as “microbes are putting into sugar.” The opening also shifts awkwardly between forms in “starts from planting trees to harvesting then processed it.” These errors sometimes make the sequence or meaning unclear. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with clauses using “after,” “before,” and “which.” Check agreement, articles, and passive forms when describing stages, such as “The sugars are processed after microbes are added.”

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.