Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-21

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)

This diagram is about the production of ethanol and the whole cycle involve in the production of methanol.

So the whole cycle start from the energy that where the energy came from and how the energy is used by different living organisms.

The carbon dioxide present in the enviroment which came from the exhallation of animals and by the use of different fossils fuels in different appliances.

The carbon dioxide and energy from the Sun are absorbed by the plants and the photosynthesis occur in the plants with the help which they produce glucose and then they grow gradually and extra glucose is converted to cellulose.

Plant and trees cuts for the harvesting and all the plants and trees are pre-proccessed for the extraction of cellulose from all the plants and trees . After extracting the cellulose, it is being processed for the conversion to sugars back,as it is made of the sugars( glucose ).

Since we know that through the process of anaerobic respiration the glucose can be convertes to ethanol,fpr this purpose we add microbes to the sugars processed from cellulose ,so that anaerobic respiartion occurs and ethanol is formed .

when ethanol is formed it is used in cars ,truck and aeroplanes . While using ethanol these cars release carbon dioxide is released back to the enviroment from where plant and trees use the carbon dioxide and energy from the sun and the whole cycle is continued.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You cover the main stages, from plant growth and harvesting through cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol, and you correctly identify transport use and the return of carbon dioxide to plants. However, the task is only partially addressed because there is no clear, concise overview of the process as a cycle, and several details are added rather than reported from the diagram. For example, animal exhalation and fossil-fuel use are not shown, nor are photosynthesis, glucose production, or anaerobic respiration specified. The opening also mistakenly calls the fuel methanol, although the diagram is about ethanol. Focus on the visible stages and summarise the cycle accurately before describing its steps.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly understandable sequence: it begins with energy and plant growth, moves through processing, and ends with ethanol use and carbon dioxide returning to plants. This gives the reader a basic sense of progression. However, the ideas are presented as one continuous block, without paragraphing or a distinct overview, and several transitions are awkward or repetitive. Phrases such as “So the whole cycle” and “Since we know that” do not clearly signal the relationship between stages, while repeated references to “plants and trees” make the progression less smooth. Organise the response into an overview and a stages paragraph, and use clear links such as “Next,” “Following this,” and “Finally” selectively.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “ethanol,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spelling errors reduce precision, including “methanol” for ethanol, “exhallation,” “pre-proccessed,” and “respiartion.” Some expressions are also imprecise or unnatural, such as “the whole cycle involve in the production” and “sugars back.” Use the diagram’s labels consistently and choose concise process terms, for example “is converted into” rather than “is made of … back.” Proofreading spelling and checking technical terms would make the description clearer and more appropriate for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including clauses linked with “which,” “since,” and “so that.” However, complex sentences are often faulty, and frequent errors sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “the whole cycle involve” and “the whole cycle start,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect, and “the glucose can be convertes,” where the verb form is inaccurate. The sentence beginning “While using ethanol” also repeats the passive construction (“release … is released”) and is difficult to parse. Work on consistent present-simple forms for process descriptions, accurate passive structures, and sentence boundaries. Shorter, carefully controlled sentences would improve accuracy before you add more complex clauses.

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

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