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 diagram illustrates how a biofuel called ethenol is produced.

Overall, this procesure consists of six steps. Procedure was started with plant production in the presence of sun light and carbon dioxide, whereas ended with production of ethanol which used for various vehicles. This proceduce is cycle and cycle again started with production of plants.

Firstly, plants are grown in the presence of energy, which is a mixture of sunlight and carbon dioxide, next step is harvesting of plants. Subsequently, after harvesting pre-processing of plants are started in the machines, and converted into cellulose.

After production of cellulose processing is started, where chemicals and microbes added during processing of ethenol. At the end, ethanol is ready to use in various vehicles, and these vehicles use ethanol and produce carbon dioxide, which helps to grow plants. Production of ethanol is cyclic procedure, started from harvesting of plants and ended with production of ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages from plant growth and harvesting through processing to ethanol use, and you identify the important circular feature: carbon dioxide from transport returns to support plant growth. This gives the reader a generally accurate account of the process. However, the overview says there are “six steps,” which does not reflect the full sequence, and the final sentence incorrectly says the cycle starts with harvesting rather than plant growth. The description also misplaces the microbes: they are added after sugars, not during processing, and the diagram does not show chemicals being added. To strengthen the response, report the stages in their exact order and distinguish the cellulose-to-sugars processing from the later addition of microbes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by two paragraphs describing the stages, and sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Subsequently,” and “At the end” help guide the reader. The broad progression from plant growth to fuel use is understandable. However, the overview and conclusion repeat the cycle idea, while the final sentence gives a different starting point from the earlier account. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly “after harvesting pre-processing of plants are started” and “After production of cellulose processing is started.” Organise the stages in one uninterrupted sequence, use clear references to each stage, and avoid repeating the same summary point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps convey the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. “Production of plants” is less precise than describing plants growing, and “chemicals and microbes added during processing” does not accurately name the diagram’s stages. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “ethenol,” “procesure,” and “proceduce,” which reduce the overall control of vocabulary. Aim for precise process verbs and check spelling carefully; alternatives such as “is converted into” and “is added” would make the account more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast with “whereas” and a relative clause in “carbon dioxide, which helps to grow plants.” However, errors in sentence structure and verb forms are frequent enough to make some passages difficult to follow. For example, “Procedure was started” and “pre-processing of plants are started” use unsuitable passive forms, while “ethanol which used for various vehicles” is missing a verb. The sentence beginning “After production of cellulose processing is started” also has an unclear grammatical structure. Practise forming accurate passive clauses for process descriptions, such as “the plants are harvested” and “microbes are added,” and check subject–verb agreement and articles.

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