Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-30

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 diagram illustrates the process of producing biofuel that is called ethanol from plants trees and it also shows how carbon dioxide is is recycled during this process .

Overall this cyclical process shows the production of ethanol that envolves step by step procedure , Firstly harvesting the plants and trees that gives us energy which involves the sunlight and carbon dioxide after they are sent for pre-processing ,where they are broken into smaller pieces and from that smaller pieces we obtain cellulose which is then processed under facility . In the next step the cellulose is then converted into sugar through processing . Microbes are subsequently added into them and in a result of that the "Ethanol " is made , which can be further more used as fuel for cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc.

This also shows that how carbon dioxide is released in the air and then through all this process again it will be reused. Concluding that It is also the chain of carbon dioxide .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a cyclical process and cover its main stages, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing, microbes, ethanol and its use as transport fuel. You also recognise the return of carbon dioxide, which is central to the diagram. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the plants grow using sunlight and carbon dioxide, rather than harvesting them to obtain energy, and the diagram shows cellulose being processed into sugars before microbes are added. Your account mentions these stages but does not clearly distinguish the conversion sequence. The overview is present, though the cycle and its key inputs and outputs could be stated more precisely. A more accurate, step-by-step description would make the main features clearer and more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a description of the stages, and a concluding comment about carbon dioxide. The sequence is generally understandable, and words such as “Firstly,” “In the next step,” and “subsequently” help guide the reader. However, the long middle section combines many stages in one sentence, making the progression harder to follow. Some connections are also unclear, particularly “harvesting the plants and trees that gives us energy” and “from that smaller pieces we obtain cellulose.” The final paragraph repeats the carbon-dioxide cycle rather than adding a distinct feature. Use separate sentences or paragraphs for plant growth and processing, then for fuel use and carbon recycling, with clearer references between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “processing,” “microbes,” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps communicate the subject. There is some variety in how you describe sequence and purpose. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “step by step procedure,” “processed under facility,” and “further more used as fuel.” Spelling and word-form errors, including “envolves,” also reduce precision. The phrase “chain of carbon dioxide” does not clearly express the recycling cycle. Aim for accurate process language and natural collocations rather than adding general phrases. For example, describe material as being “processed in a facility” and say that ethanol “is used as a fuel.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses linked with “which” and “after,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, control is uneven, especially in the long sentence describing the stages. Examples include “plants and trees that gives us energy,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect, and “from that smaller pieces we obtain cellulose,” which has an incomplete grammatical pattern. There are also problems with articles and sentence boundaries, as in “processed under facility,” while the opening contains duplicated wording: “is is recycled.” Punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent. Build accuracy by using shorter sentences for each stage, checking agreement and articles, and proofreading for repeated words and sentence boundaries.

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