Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-31

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 about the process of ethanol that's called biofuel. Overall, we have some steps of biofuel from natural energy to biofuel.

Firstly, the natural source of energy like sunlight and carbon dioxide is provide to the plants to grow and grow trees. Once the trees have been grown than then the processing of harvesting has been started. After that, it goes to the pre-processing machine and it converts into cellulose.

In addition, the mixture of cellulose is transferrd to processing machine then it changes into the form of sugar.Moreover, the ethanole has been produced. The vehicles used ethanol and produced carbon dioxide. Finally, this carbon dioxide has been used by plants and the process of making ethanol has been started again. This full process hae been taken around seven steps only and biofuel production has been completed successfully.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a production process and describe several key stages, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing, and the return of carbon dioxide to plants. The closing sentence also recognises that the process is cyclical. However, the overview is vague (“some steps of biofuel”) and the account omits important details: microbes are added to the sugars, ethanol is then used by cars, trucks and aircraft, and carbon dioxide is released by these transport modes. The claim that the process has “around seven steps only” is inaccurate, and the diagram does not show a “pre-processing machine.” The response is also 10 words below the required minimum. Develop a clearer overview and report the full sequence accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a broadly chronological order, and markers such as “Firstly,” “After that,” “In addition,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. The final reference to carbon dioxide returning to plants gives the account a sense of closure. However, the progression becomes unclear around “Moreover, the ethanole has been produced”: the transition from sugars to microbes and then ethanol is not explained. Some linking phrases are used mechanically, and the first sentence does not establish a precise overview. The response is presented as one paragraph, so the stages are not visually grouped. Use a short overview followed by a clearly sequenced description, with transitions that show the actual relationships between stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “processing,” and “carbon dioxide,” which makes the topic recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “natural source of energy … is provide to the plants” and “pre-processing machine” do not describe the diagram precisely, while “mixture of cellulose” is not supported by it. Spelling and word-form errors such as “transferrd,” “ethanole,” and “hae” also reduce accuracy. “Sugar” should be plural, as the diagram labels this stage “Sugars.” Aim for precise process verbs and nouns, and check spelling and collocations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a sequence of connected sentences and use some subordinate structures, for example “Once the trees have been grown…” and “Finally, this carbon dioxide has been used by plants…”. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make parts of the description awkward. Examples include “is provide” instead of a correctly formed passive, “Once the trees have been grown than then,” which has faulty sequencing, and “the process … hae been completed,” where the verb form is incorrect. Tense and passive constructions are not consistently controlled, and punctuation is missing after “sugar.” Use straightforward present-simple passives for process stages, such as “The plants are harvested” and “Microbes are added,” and check each sentence for a complete, correctly formed verb.

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