Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-22

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 illustrated diagram shows process of formation of biofuel known as ethanol. The process starts when plants and trees grow by absorbing energy in form of sunlight and carbon dioxide. Then they are harvested and move to a machinary for preprocessing stage, from there cellulose is extracted. The plant cellulose undergoes a chemical process and form sugar. At last, microbes are added into that sugar and final product is formed which is known as ethanol a commonly used biofuel used in many means of transport and vehicles such as cars, trucks, airplanes etc. As carbon dioxide is emitted from vehicles because they consume fuel for powering themselves. This carbon dioxide is again abosorbed by plants and trees and so this loop continues. Starting from plants and ending at production of ethanol which is then utilized as a fuel in transportation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages, from plant growth and harvesting through cellulose and sugar to ethanol, and you recognise the key cycle in which carbon dioxide returns to the plants. However, the account is brief and does not fully report important diagram details: for example, it does not clearly state that microbes are added to the sugars before ethanol is produced, or explain that ethanol is used by three transport types. The phrase “move to a machinary” also suggests the plants themselves are moved to a machine, rather than describing pre-processing. The response is 10 words below the required minimum, which limits the opportunity to cover the process fully. Add a concise overview and clarify each stage and the carbon-dioxide loop.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in a broadly logical order, and sequencing expressions such as “Then,” “from there,” and “At last” help the reader follow the process. The final sentences also attempt to connect transport emissions back to plant growth. However, the response is written as one continuous paragraph, and the ending repeats the idea that ethanol is used in transport after this has already been stated. Some links are awkward: “As carbon dioxide is emitted…” is not smoothly connected to the preceding sentence, while “Starting from plants…” is a fragment rather than a complete concluding statement. Organise the description into a clear opening overview and a body that follows the diagram, using references and transitions without repeating information.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “carbon dioxide,” which allows the reader to understand the general subject. There is some attempt at more specific wording, such as “preprocessing stage” and “final product.” However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward, including “move to a machinary,” “form sugar,” and “used in many means of transport and vehicles.” Spelling errors such as “machinary” and “abosorbed” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process collocations and avoid unnecessary repetition of “used” and “process.” For example, describe the material as being sent for pre-processing, sugars as being produced, and ethanol as being used as fuel in transport.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple statements and attempts at longer, linked sentences, for example, “The process starts when plants and trees grow…” and the sentence describing carbon dioxide returning to plants. The main sequence remains understandable, but errors in sentence construction and grammatical forms are noticeable. “The illustrated diagram shows process” needs an article, and “the plant cellulose undergoes a chemical process and form sugar” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence beginning “As carbon dioxide is emitted…” is an incomplete or poorly connected clause, and “Starting from plants and ending at production…” is also a fragment. Use complete sentences with consistent present-tense verbs, and check articles, agreement, and clause connections.

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