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 diagram depicts how a biofuel called ethanol is being produced.

overall, it can be seen that the diagram is cyclic and it begins with the stages of plants and trees grow with the energy produced by both sunlight and carbon dioxide and ends with the emission of carbon dioxide in environement and it is a never ending process.

According to the process diagram , the plants takes sunlight and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for growing up.After the plants and trees are fully grown, it then being harvested by farmers. Following by that, it then make small particles through pre-processing method. Then, the produced cellulose going through some process and as a result sugar being produced.

Furthermore, in the next stage the sugar then transforms to

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the process as cyclical and describe several early stages, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing and the production of cellulose and sugars. However, the response covers only part of the diagram: it stops at “the sugar then transforms to” and does not explain the addition of microbes, ethanol production, its use in transport, or the return of carbon dioxide to the plants. The overview also says the process ends with carbon dioxide emission, whereas the diagram shows this gas cycling back to support plant growth. The response is below the required 150 words, which further limits its coverage. To improve, report the complete sequence and give an accurate overview of the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation: an opening identifies the diagram, an overview follows, and the main stages are introduced in sequence. Connectors such as “After,” “Following by that,” and “Furthermore” help signal progression. However, the response ends mid-sentence, so the sequence has no conclusion and the overall progression is incomplete. Some linking is also mechanical or unclear: “Following by that, it then…” does not express the transition naturally, and repeated “then” makes the account less smooth. Paragraphing is present but the body does not develop the full process. Use clear stage-to-stage links and complete the account through ethanol use and carbon dioxide returning to plant growth.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” and “emission,” which helps identify key stages. There is also an attempt to vary wording with phrases such as “fully grown” and “transforms.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward, including “the energy produced by both sunlight and carbon dioxide” and “make small particles through pre-processing method.” Spelling errors such as “environement” are noticeable, and “sugar” is used where the diagram labels the output as “sugars.” Aim for precise process language and natural collocations, for example, “plants absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide” and “the material is pre-processed.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more extended sentences, including “After the plants and trees are fully grown, it then being harvested by farmers.” However, errors in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some parts difficult to follow. Examples include “the plants takes,” “it then being harvested,” “the produced cellulose going through,” and “sugar being produced,” where finite verbs are missing or incorrectly formed. The opening overview also begins with a lowercase “overall,” and punctuation spacing is inconsistent. Use a clear subject and correctly conjugated verb in each clause: for example, “After the plants and trees have grown, farmers harvest them.” Practise combining accurate simple sentences before attempting longer structures.

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