Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-26

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)

In the supplied process the producation of biofeul or ethanol is given.

Overall, in the initial step the plants and trees grows using energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide and in the final step the ethanol production happen but it is an continues process so with help of carbon dioxide again process starts.

To begins with, plants growth with help of the energy of the sunligh and carbon dioxide. Then harvesting and pre-processing of raw materials occurs. Then in next step cellulose is being generated and by processing the cellulose the sugars are produce then microbes are added in to the suger. That make the ehanol and this ethanol is called as the biofuel and used in various vehicals such as the car, trucks and flights which are the most used transportation in current times. In the final step, the carbon dioxide is produce by this transporting vahicals and it helps to make plant grow. With that an complete cycle of the biofuel is described above.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and give a relevant overview, identifying plant growth at the beginning and the return of carbon dioxide as part of a continuing cycle. The sequence from harvesting and pre-processing through cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol is also broadly accurate, and you mention its use in transport. Some details are less fully or precisely reported: for example, the diagram shows ethanol being used by a car, truck and aeroplane, while “flights” is less exact, and the role of microbes could be stated more clearly as their addition before ethanol is produced. The overview could also emphasise the cycle more directly. To strengthen the response, describe the stages and the carbon-dioxide loop precisely, without adding general claims such as these being the “most used” forms of transport.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows the process in a generally logical order, moving from plant growth to harvesting, processing, ethanol and the return of carbon dioxide. The opening overview and the later step-by-step paragraph help the reader understand the overall arrangement. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical: “Then” is repeated several times, and “To begins with” and “In the final step” do not always connect ideas smoothly. The final sentence repeats the cycle idea rather than adding a clear concluding point. Use a wider range of accurate sequencing and reference devices, and group the stages into clearer phases—for example, plant preparation, conversion to ethanol, and fuel use and carbon return.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “sugars” and “microbes,” which helps communicate the stages. There is also some attempt at more formal phrasing, such as “initial step” and “final step.” However, spelling errors are noticeable, including “producation,” “biofeul,” “sunligh” and “ehanol,” and several word choices or collocations are imprecise: “plants growth,” “the sugars are produce,” and “transporting vahicals.” “Flights” is also less suitable than naming the aeroplane shown. These issues do not prevent the main meaning from being understood, but they limit precision. Check spelling carefully and learn accurate process collocations such as “plants grow,” “sugars are produced” and “vehicles emit carbon dioxide.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sentence describing the cycle with “so” and a sequence linked by “then.” The overall meaning is usually understandable, but some errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence construction remain. For example, “the plants and trees grows” should use a plural verb, while “the ethanol production happen” needs a singular verb or a different construction. In “the sugars are produce,” the passive participle is incorrect, and “To begins with” has an inaccurate verb form. Some sentences also become awkwardly joined, particularly the overview sentence beginning “Overall.” Practise accurate present-simple and passive forms, and separate long process descriptions into clear sentences.

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