Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-17
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 process of ethanol production which is a biofuel.
From this diagram we can observe there are total ten stages and a number of environmental process of carbon dioxide emission, starting from growth of plants and trees to carbon dioxide emission.
The process starts from plants and trees growth by absorbing sunlinght and their essential carbon dioxide then those plant are being harvested. After harvesting the pre-processing steps for cellulose production will get started. Then those cellulose will go through in lab to produce sugar from that. Sugars will send to microbes which will convert sugar into ethanol through biological process which is called fermentation.
These ethanol can be used as fuel for transports,planes and many other vehicles. All these vehicles emit carbon dioxide in the environment. These carbon dioxide will help trees and plants to grow.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the subject and describe the main sequence from plant growth through harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol, then connect fuel use with carbon dioxide returning to support plant growth. This captures the diagram’s cyclical feature. However, the overview is not clearly separated from the stage-by-stage account, and some details are inaccurate or unsupported: the diagram does not specify that cellulose is produced during pre-processing, that processing occurs “in lab,” or that the conversion is called fermentation. The three transport modes—cars, trucks and aeroplanes—could also be reported precisely. The response is 140 words, below the required 150, so it does not meet the minimum. Add a concise overview and clarify the stages using only information shown.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response follows a broadly logical order, moving from plant growth to fuel use and the return of carbon dioxide. This makes the overall cycle understandable, and phrases such as “After harvesting” and “Then” help signal sequence. However, the organisation is limited to one continuous paragraph, with no distinct overview or clear grouping of the production stages and the final cycle. Several links are also awkward or unclear, such as “After harvesting the pre-processing steps for cellulose production will get started” and “Sugars will send to microbes.” Use separate paragraphs for the overview and process details, and connect stages with accurate, varied sequencing language. Clearer referencing would also help readers follow what each pronoun refers to.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “ethanol,” which allows the reader to understand the general subject. There is also an attempt to use more specific language, such as “carbon dioxide emission” and “biological process.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate: “sunlinght” is misspelled, “plants and trees growth” is unnatural, and “sugars will send to microbes” does not express the process clearly. “In lab” and “many other vehicles” are also imprecise. Aim for accurate process collocations such as “plants absorb sunlight,” “the sugars are converted,” and “the fuel is used by several forms of transport.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence joined with “After harvesting” and “Then,” and the main stages can generally be understood. However, errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward or difficult to follow. For example, “there are total ten stages” is missing an article and has an unnatural structure; “those plant are being harvested” has a number-agreement error; and “Sugars will send to microbes” lacks the passive form needed here. The sentence beginning “From this diagram we can observe” also has an unclear construction, while “These ethanol can be used” has a demonstrative-agreement error. Practise accurate passive forms for process descriptions and check articles, plurals, and subject–verb agreement. Vary sentence patterns while keeping each stage grammatically complete.
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