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 diagram illustrates what happens to a biofuel is also known as providing ethanol. In the overview, in its initial stage, plants and green trees are grown. In its final stage, carbon dioxide is released from the car.

At the starting point, plants and trees are grown. After some time, it is ready for harvesting. We can harvest with the help of a tractor. If the harvesting is done to goes to the pre-processing unit. The pre-processing unit can transfer them into cellulose. It will go to processing, which makes them into the shape of sugars. The sugar can be added to the microbes.

In this process, ethanol is produced, which can be divided into three different types of released carbon dioxide. In the first step, it can be transferred into the atmosphere, which can pollute the air. In the second step, it can be transferred into the truck, that can combustion of fuel. In the last stage, it can be transferred into the car.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the general subject and include several central stages, such as harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing, sugars and microbes. However, the account only partially reports the diagram and its overview is inaccurate: carbon dioxide is not released only from a car at the final stage; it is released by the car, truck and aeroplane and returns to support plant growth. The description also misstates the transport sequence, saying ethanol is divided into “three different types of released carbon dioxide” and describing carbon dioxide as transferred into vehicles. The key cyclical relationship between plant growth and carbon dioxide is therefore not clearly explained. To improve, give an accurate overview of the cycle, then describe the production stages and the three transport uses in their correct order.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from plant growth through processing to ethanol, and paragraph breaks provide some organisation. Time and sequence markers such as “At the starting point,” “After some time,” and “In the last stage” help the reader follow parts of the process. However, progression becomes unclear in the final paragraph, where “first,” “second,” and “last” do not match the diagram’s three transport modes, and the links between ethanol, transport and carbon dioxide are confusing. Some transitions are also mechanically repeated. Organise the report into a concise overview followed by the production stages and then the fuel-use and carbon-recycling stages; use clear references to each vehicle and process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “processing,” “sugars” and “microbes,” which helps convey the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or combinations make the process difficult to understand. For example, “biofuel is also known as providing ethanol” does not clearly express that ethanol is the biofuel, while “three different types of released carbon dioxide” mislabels the transport modes. Phrases such as “in the shape of sugars” and “combustion of fuel” are also imprecise in context. Aim for accurate process language and avoid adding effects not shown in the diagram, such as air pollution. Useful alternatives include “converted into sugars” and “used as fuel in vehicles.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a mixture of simple sentences and longer clauses, and some basic statements are understandable, such as “The pre-processing unit can transfer them into cellulose.” However, attempts at more complex structures are often faulty, and frequent errors sometimes make the intended sequence hard to follow. Examples include “If the harvesting is done to goes to the pre-processing unit,” where the conditional structure and verb forms are not controlled, and “the truck, that can combustion of fuel,” which lacks a grammatical verb construction. There are also unclear pronoun references in “them” and “it.” Use direct, complete sentences with consistent present simple forms for process descriptions, and check that each clause has a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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