Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-13

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 given process chart shows, how a factory produce a biofuel which is called ethanol. The process include eight to nine major steps, in this essay i will talk about this steps.

Overall, in the beggining they grow plants and trees and after these they will transport these tress to the factory. In the end after make ethanol the put this in the different kinds of vehicals.

Firstly, farmers grow plants and trees, which take sunlight + carbon dioxide. after some time they harvest those plants and trees which is shown in thw second step. In the third step, they pre-processing to get some part of plant which is called cellulose.

In the fifth step, they will start the processing of cellulose. then they separate the sugar, and add some microbes to make final product thats called eathanol. At the end, they put ethanol in differe

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response identifies the subject as ethanol production and mentions several relevant stages, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol. However, it addresses the diagram only minimally: the overview is vague, and the account stops before explaining that ethanol is used by cars, trucks and aircraft and that the resulting carbon dioxide returns to support plant growth. Some details are also inaccurate or unclear, such as saying the plants are transported to a factory and describing cellulose as a “part of plant.” The response contains 146 words, so it does not meet the 150-word minimum. To improve, give a clear overview of the cycle and describe all key stages and the carbon-dioxide loop accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation: the response has an introduction, an overview and two body paragraphs, and sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “In the third step” and “At the end” help signal order. However, progression is weakened by inconsistent numbering (“the fifth step” follows “the third step”) and by the abrupt ending at “differe,” which leaves the final stage unfinished. Some links are also awkward or unclear, including “after these” and “In the end after make ethanol.” Use a consistent sequence without unnecessary step numbers, and connect each stage clearly to the next. A complete final paragraph or sentence would make the account feel more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses basic vocabulary relevant to the process, including “harvest,” “cellulose,” “sugar,” “microbes” and “ethanol,” so the reader can recognise the general topic. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make the description less clear: “beggining,” “tress,” “thw,” “vehicals” and “eathanol.” Phrases such as “some part of plant” and “put this in the different kinds” are imprecise for an academic process description. Aim for accurate process vocabulary and more precise collocations, for example “extract cellulose,” “convert sugars” and “use ethanol as fuel.” Proofreading technical terms and common words would also improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a few longer structures, such as “Firstly, farmers grow plants and trees, which take sunlight + carbon dioxide,” and uses sequencing clauses to describe stages. However, the range remains limited, and frequent errors affect sentence accuracy. Examples include “a factory produce” instead of subject–verb agreement, “The process include,” “after make ethanol,” and “they pre-processing.” Sentence boundaries and capitalisation are also inconsistent, as in “after some time they harvest” and “then they separate.” The final sentence is incomplete. Practise accurate present-simple passive forms for processes, such as “the plants are harvested” and “microbes are added,” and check agreement, articles and punctuation.

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

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