Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-29

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 given diagram demonstrate the production process of a biofuel which is known by ethanol.

The diagram shows the whole process of produstion of the ethanol starting form natural energy and then going through different steps which have some natural and some steps are human made.

Starting form the natural energy the plants and trees take sunlight and carbon dioxide from natural which help them to grow. When they are grow enough the second step harvesting start after harvesting the third step in the process is pre-processing of the plants that has been taken.

Next step in the production process is the conversion to the cellulose.

In addation, after these steps the actual process in the lab or companies start there are some processing done on the cellulose and it convert it into sugars. Furthermore, the next step there are microbes added to the sugars which forms ethanol biofuel. Which we all are using in our daily life. For instance, carbon dioxide in transportations such as cars, buses and aeroplanes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main subject and report several early stages in the correct order, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing and sugars. However, the account only partially covers the diagram: it does not clearly describe the overall circular cycle, and the final stages are incomplete. You mention microbes and ethanol, but omit that ethanol is used by cars, trucks and aeroplanes and that their carbon dioxide returns to the plants. The reference to buses is not shown, and carbon dioxide is presented as coming from transport without explaining its return in the cycle. Add a concise overview and report the full sequence and recycling link to make the key features clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from plant growth through harvesting and processing, and paragraph breaks separate the opening from the process description. Linking expressions such as “Next step,” “In addition” and “Furthermore” help signal progression. However, the organisation is not consistently clear: the opening repeats the idea of the process, and the final paragraph shifts abruptly from ethanol production to transport emissions. Some links are awkward or do not show the relationship between stages, while “Which we all are using…” is left as a fragment. Group the stages into a clear beginning, middle and end, and use transitions that explain the cycle rather than simply adding another point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “processing,” “sugars” and “microbes,” which allows the reader to recognise several stages. There is also some attempt to vary wording with “conversion” and “production process.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “produstion,” “addation” and “starting form,” and some phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “known by ethanol” and “actual process in the lab or companies.” “Transportations” is also an unsuitable form in this context. Aim for accurate process collocations and use the diagram’s labels directly where possible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a time clause in “When they are grow enough” and a relative clause in “the plants that has been taken.” These attempts show some range, but complex structures are often faulty and errors recur. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “The given diagram demonstrate,” the incorrect verb form in “they are grow,” and agreement in “plants that has been taken.” The sentence beginning “Furthermore, the next step…” is also structurally incomplete, and “Which we all are using…” is a fragment. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and verb forms when describing each stage.

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