Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The diagram illustrates the cycle of production of ethanol as a biofuel from the enivironment. Overall, plants and trees grow by absorbing engergy from the air. While the whole cycle is divided into differents stages like harvesting, chemical processing and finally used by vechiles. In contrast, Carbon dioxide is released from the fuel usage and the whole cycle is repeated again.

Intially, plants and trees consume energy from the air, and absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide in the from of photosynthesis. Once, these plants are matured, they enter into stages called harvesting and therby all the crops are cutted. These plants enter onto pre-processing stage, in which they are converted into small particles called, cellulose.

Each cellulose enter into a chemical stage, known as processing. Addinationally, in this step sugars is produced and then fermentation of the sucorose microbes is added to produce ethanol. This ethanol is used as a fuel in many vechiles ike airoplanes, trucks and cars. The fuel used by the vechicals is burned out and carbon dioxide is released back into the air. The whole process follows in the form of cycle and is reabsorbed by the plants i the form of energy for growing on land.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main stages and identify the circular nature of the process, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, conversion to cellulose and sugars, ethanol production, transport use, and carbon dioxide returning to plants. This gives the response a solid account of the diagram. The overview is present, but “plants and trees grow by absorbing energy from the air” is imprecise: the diagram shows sunlight and carbon dioxide as inputs, rather than energy from air. Some process details are also unclear or unsupported, particularly “fermentation of the sucorose” and the claim that crops are cut into small particles. To strengthen the response further, describe the microbes’ role without adding an unshown substance, and report the stages more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by the growth and preparation stages, then processing and fuel use. Paragraphing helps the reader distinguish these parts, and phrases such as “Once” and “This ethanol” provide some linking and reference. However, connections are occasionally mechanical or unclear. For example, “While the whole cycle is divided into differents stages” is an incomplete contrast, and “Each cellulose enter into a chemical stage” makes the relationship between cellulose and processing difficult to follow. The final paragraph also packs several stages into one long chain. Use more precise links between each input and output, and make sure each sentence has a clear relationship to the one before it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “processing,” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. However, the range and control are limited by repeated general wording such as “stage” and “plants,” as well as inaccurate or awkward choices: “energy from the air,” “cutted,” “sucorose,” and “fuel usage.” Several spelling errors, including “enivironment,” “Intially,” and “vechiles,” are noticeable and reduce precision. Aim to use accurate process terms and standard spelling, and avoid introducing technical terms that are not shown or are uncertain. More precise verbs for the transformations would make the description clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the overview sentence beginning “While” and the sequence “Once, these plants are matured…”. However, errors in sentence structure, agreement, verb forms, and punctuation are frequent enough to make some relationships difficult to follow. For example, “While the whole cycle is divided…” is a dependent clause without a complete main clause, “Each cellulose enter” has incorrect subject–verb agreement, and “sugars is produced” also has an agreement error. “Once, these plants are matured” uses an awkward tense construction, while commas interrupt phrases in “called, cellulose.” Build shorter, complete sentences first, then check agreement and verb forms when combining stages.

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