Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-19

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 above chart displays us the production of biofuel and how the ethanol is made .

First plant and trees grows by Energy and energy is conducted by sunlight and carbon dioxide and when trees and plants gets bigger and grow up they are converted into harvested form and then the resoucres are pre processed by a specific method and process which convert the harvested parts of plants and trees to cellulose and then the cellulose is chemically under processed and converted to sugars and then microbes are added and it is successfully converted to ethanol and then the ethanol is transmitted to cars and trucks and the vehicles release the ethanol in tha form of carbox dioxide and the same process again starts and this process continues

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the main stages from plant growth through harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol, and you recognise that carbon dioxide is returned to the cycle. However, the account is incomplete: it mentions cars and trucks but omits the aeroplane, and it does not clearly explain that carbon dioxide from transport returns to the growing plants. There is also no concise overview of the cycle’s key features, and some process details are vague, such as “a specific method.” The response is 128 words, below the required 150, so it does not meet the task’s length requirement. Add a clear overview and describe the full sequence and transport stage accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The stages are generally presented in the correct order, and words such as “then” help the reader follow the process. This gives the response some basic organisation. However, almost the entire account is written as one long sentence, with no paragraphing or clear separation between the production stages and the recycling of carbon dioxide. Repeated use of “and then” makes the progression mechanical, while the final phrase, “the same process again starts,” does not clearly connect the emissions back to plant growth. Use a short introductory overview followed by a logically grouped sequence, and vary linking expressions such as “after this,” “subsequently” and “finally.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use several relevant process terms, including “harvested,” “cellulose,” “sugars,” “microbes” and “ethanol,” which show some task-specific vocabulary. However, the range is limited and some choices are inaccurate or awkward: “ethanol is transmitted to cars” is not a natural description of its use as fuel, and “carbox dioxide” is an incorrect spelling of “carbon dioxide.” Phrases such as “converted into harvested form” and “chemically under processed” are also unclear. Aim for precise process collocations, for example, “the plants are harvested,” “the material is processed,” and “ethanol is used as fuel in vehicles.” Check spelling of key labels from the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to connect several stages using subordinate clauses and sequencing, but it relies heavily on one extended sentence, so the range of sentence structures is limited. Frequent errors affect clarity, including subject–verb agreement in “plants and trees grows” and “plants gets bigger,” and the unclear construction “energy is conducted by sunlight and carbon dioxide.” The sentence also lacks appropriate punctuation and contains several clauses joined only by “and.” Use shorter, complete sentences and check agreement, tense and clause boundaries. For example: “Plants and trees grow using sunlight and carbon dioxide. They are then harvested and pre-processed.” This would make the sequence easier to understand.

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