Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-24

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 process diagram illustrates the formation of biofuel known as ethanol.

Overall, the procedure of formation of ethanol is based on nine typical steps starting from energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide and ends at again carbon dioxide. It is the main factor of pollution of environment .

At the begining, the plants get sunlight and carbon dioxide from the environment for the production of food with help of process photosynthesis. When the plants become mature, they are harvested by the farmers and other individuals. Then the pre processing take place which involves cutting by different advanced machines. After that the small pieces are then converted into cellulose. The cellolose then is converted into sugars by passing different stages and chemical processes.

After some chemical changes sugars are converted into ethanol which is then taken to different pumps. The ethanol is then used as biofuel by different vehicles such as cars, trucks and aeroplanes. Then it goes to atmosphere again in the form og carbon dioxide by cumbustion by vehicles.

It uses sunlight by plants and by passing through steps again go back to atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages from plant growth through harvesting, processing and fuel use, and your overview recognises the cycle returning to carbon dioxide. The references to cars, trucks and aeroplanes also match the diagram. However, some details are inferred rather than shown: the diagram does not specify photosynthesis, cutting by advanced machines, chemical changes, or fuel being taken to pumps. More importantly, it shows cellulose being processed into sugars, followed by microbes being added before ethanol is produced; your account omits the microbes and makes the conversion sound like a direct chemical change. The overview also calls carbon dioxide a pollution factor, although the diagram presents it as part of a cycle. Report the labelled stages more precisely and avoid unsupported explanations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence, using markers such as “At the beginning,” “Then,” and “After that,” so the reader can follow the broad process. The opening and overview are separated from the stage-by-stage account, and the final sentence attempts to return to the cycle. However, progression becomes repetitive: the final sentence restates the carbon-dioxide cycle without adding a clear concluding feature. Some links are also vague, particularly “After some chemical changes,” which does not identify the diagram’s microbes stage. Paragraphing is limited, and several stages are crowded into one long paragraph. Organise the description into a concise overview and clearly grouped stages, using references that make each transition explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “cellulose,” “sugars,” “ethanol,” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also some attempt at more specific wording, such as “pre processing” and “combustion.” However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “formation” is repeated where “production” would be more natural, “different pumps” is not supported by the diagram, and “production of food” is imprecise in this context. Spelling errors such as “begining,” “cellolose,” “og,” and “cumbustion” reduce control. Aim for accurate process collocations and check spelling; use the diagram’s labels rather than adding vague or unsupported terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including time clauses such as “When the plants become mature” and a passive construction in “they are harvested.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “the procedure … is based on nine typical steps” is an awkward construction, while “the pre processing take place” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence “The cellulose then is converted” has unnatural word order, and “by passing through steps” does not form a clear grammatical relationship. There are also article and punctuation problems, including the space before the full stop in “environment .” Use consistent present simple forms, check agreement and articles, and build shorter, clearly controlled sentences around each stage.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.