Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-01

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 illustrate the biofuel production and how ethanol was made. Six steps was involved to made ethanol and biofuel production.

Overall, there are several methods included to make ethanol. Three methods are major like Harvesting, pre-processing and processing and energy. Energy is distributed into sunlight and carbon dioxide.

To begin with, plants and trees are grown, then harvesting the trees and plants. Afterwards, pre-processing the trees and plants in machine. All the mixture of plants converted into cellulose. In addition, cellulose transferred to laboratory then in laboratory processing is done and it convert into sugars.

After this process, microbes is added then ethanol is ready to use in various vehicles like bus, aeroplane and cars then they release carbondioxide.Then again carbon dioxide consume by trees and plants. This whole process is recycle and ethanol is make. Therefore, this process is used to make biofuel production.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a production cycle and describe several key stages, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing, sugars, microbes and ethanol. You also note the return of carbon dioxide to plants, which captures the cycle’s main feature. However, the overview is unclear: calling harvesting, pre-processing, processing and energy “three methods” is inaccurate, and the account does not clearly explain that sunlight and carbon dioxide support plant growth. Some details are also unsupported or imprecise: the diagram shows a car, truck and aeroplane, not a bus, and does not specify a laboratory. The response is 146 words, below the required 150. Develop the overview and report the stages and outputs more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by stages in sequence, with paragraph breaks that help separate the process. Connectors such as “To begin with,” “Afterwards,” and “After this process” guide the reader through the cycle. However, progression is sometimes weakened by unclear links and repetitive phrasing, particularly repeated references to “the trees and plants.” The overview’s “Three methods are major” does not clearly connect to the stages that follow, and “Therefore” introduces a conclusion that largely repeats the preceding point. Use clearer references such as “these materials” and connect each stage directly to its output to make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “carbon dioxide,” which allows the reader to recognise the main stages. There is some repetition of general words such as “process,” “plants and trees,” and “make,” and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate. For example, “methods” does not describe the listed production stages, “energy is distributed into sunlight and carbon dioxide” misrepresents the diagram’s label, and “ethanol is make” is not an appropriate expression. Spelling and spacing in “carbondioxide” also need attention. Aim for precise process verbs and standard forms such as “is converted into” and “is produced.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and linked sentences, using sequencing clauses such as “then harvesting the trees and plants” and “then ethanol is ready to use.” However, errors occur frequently in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction, sometimes making relationships between stages unclear. Examples include “The diagram illustrate,” “Six steps was involved,” “it convert into sugars,” and “microbes is added.” The opening also uses an infinitive incorrectly in “to made ethanol.” Several clauses are fragments or lack a clear subject, as in “Afterwards, pre-processing the trees and plants in machine.” Practise accurate present-simple passive forms for process descriptions, such as “the plants are harvested” and “the material is converted,” and check subject–verb agreement and punctuation.

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