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 given diagram illustrates the information how ethanol is produced.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that the process of ethanol consist of various stages. beginning with the plants and trees grown and ending with the microbes added.

Now, turninng the details it is obvious firstly plants and trees grown. they get energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide when plants and trees able the procedure of cutting. Then they harvest by using harvesting machine. However, the harvested material put into pre-processing mahine which converted into cellulose. After this process cellulose sent the huge processing unit where machines processing the cellulose and make cullulose into sugars. finally the sugars are added into microbes and ethnaol is produced. After then ethanol is provide the usage of transport like car, truck and aeroplane. these tranportation sources used ethanol and produce carbon dioxide. this carbon dioxide provide energy to the plants and trees.

After passing plants and trees these processes in this method biofuel is produced which is called ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages, from plant growth and harvesting through processing, sugar production, fermentation and transport use, and you correctly identify carbon dioxide returning to the plants. This gives the reader a broadly accurate account of the cycle. However, the overview is not fully effective: it says the process ends with “the microbes added,” although microbes are added before ethanol is produced and the cycle continues through transport and carbon dioxide. Some details are also unclear or imprecise, such as saying the plants “able the procedure of cutting.” To strengthen the response, give a concise overview that identifies the conversion of plant material into ethanol and the recycling of carbon dioxide, then describe the stages accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening, an overview, a main sequence of stages and a closing statement. The stages are generally presented in the order shown, and connectors such as “After this process” and “finally” help signal progression. However, the progression is weakened by awkward transitions, including “Now, turninng the details,” and by repetitive or unclear links such as “After passing plants and trees these processes.” The overview also conflicts with the later account by suggesting the process ends with microbes. Use clearer paragraphing and straightforward sequencing language, and ensure each reference clearly identifies the material or stage being discussed. This would make the cycle easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “sugars,” “microbes” and “carbon dioxide,” which allows you to cover the diagram’s main stages. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “processing unit.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to understand: “plants and trees able the procedure of cutting,” “machines processing the cellulose,” and “ethnaol is provide the usage of transport.” Spelling errors such as “turninng,” “mahine,” “cullulose” and “tranportation” also reduce clarity. Aim for accurate process collocations, for example, “the material is harvested,” “cellulose is converted into sugars,” and “ethanol is used as fuel.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response communicates the broad sequence despite some grammatical problems. However, control of verb forms, sentence structure and agreement is inconsistent. For example, “the process of ethanol consist” needs subject–verb agreement, while “plants and trees grown” lacks an appropriate verb form. The sentence “they get energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide when plants and trees able the procedure of cutting” is difficult to parse because its clauses are not correctly connected. There are also problems with articles and passive constructions, as in “the harvested material put into pre-processing.” Practise using consistent present simple passive forms for process descriptions, such as “the material is harvested” and “it is then processed.”

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