Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-14

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 image shows how Ethanol is being produced by following standard procedure.

Overall, to make an Ethanol we need to have proper Harvesting equipments. Although it goes through heavy machinary and many bio drugs can be added such as Mircobes. Ethanol is widely used as a source of fuel in a vehicle.

The first step has small amount of natural process, the sun raise and CO 2is being catched by the trees and plants, which leads to the Harvesting with the help of tractor and Harvester(one type of machine used in farming). Secondly, it goes into the pre processing step which separates the good seeds from the bad ones and after that, we have to add the cellulose which contains sugar.

Now, the factory process has been started for turning it into sugar. In addition, the procedure also uses the Microbes for high standard of gasoline. Finally, Ethanol is made and it is ready to use in different types of vehicles.

At the end, the process will repeat itself via CO2 comes from those vehicles and the crops will again catch that and it will follow the steps again.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a production process and include its broad cycle: plants take in carbon dioxide, ethanol is produced, and vehicle emissions return carbon dioxide to the plants. However, several key stages are misreported or unclear. The diagram shows pre-processing producing cellulose, which is then processed into sugars; it does not show seeds being sorted or cellulose being added. Microbes are added to the sugars, rather than being described as a general additive for making “high standard of gasoline.” The overview also focuses on harvesting equipment instead of clearly summarising the main transformation and the carbon cycle. To strengthen the report, describe each stage accurately and distinguish the diagram’s labels from assumptions about the process.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the stages and the cycle. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “The first step,” “Secondly,” and “Finally” help guide the reader. However, some links are mechanical or unclear: “Although it goes through heavy machinary” does not connect logically to the preceding overview, and “At the end” is less precise than a clear reference to the cycle returning to the plants. The paragraphing is serviceable, but the process would be clearer if each stage were linked explicitly to the next, especially cellulose, processing, sugars, and microbes.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “Harvesting,” “pre processing,” “cellulose,” “Microbes,” and “Ethanol,” which helps identify the subject. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing the diagram. “Bio drugs” does not describe microbes, “high standard of gasoline” is not supported by the visual, and “good seeds from the bad ones” invents a sorting stage. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “machinary,” “Mircobes,” and “catched.” Aim for precise process terms and avoid adding interpretations: for example, use “is converted into” and “carbon dioxide is absorbed” to describe the stages accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning “Although” and “which,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in sentence construction and verb forms are frequent enough to make some passages awkward. For example, “to make an Ethanol we need to have” has an unnecessary article and an informal construction, while “the sun raise and CO 2is being catched” has problems with verb form and sentence structure. “At the end, the process will repeat itself via CO2 comes” also combines incompatible grammatical patterns. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions, such as “carbon dioxide is absorbed,” and use consistent present simple forms to explain the stages.

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