Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-02

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 how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Overall, production of biofuel involve eleven steps, it commence by reflecting enery, sunlight and carbon dioxide on the plants and then the process ends with vehicles producing carbon dioxide whic is again used for recycling purposes.

To begin with, biofuel production begins as the plants and trees grow by receving the energy,sunlight and carbon dioxide. In the next step, a farmer with the help of tractor is collecting plants following this, then it is transferred into a machine for pre-processing. After that it separates the thread like structure called cellulose and then it is transferred into laborartory for processing method.

Following this, after the processing techniques and practical is completed, then addition of sugars into microbes where it produce biofuel called as ethanol. Finally, ethanol is used in cars, truck and airplanes release carbon dioxide then it is again recycled in the process. Plants and carbon dioxide plays a major role while producing ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages from plant growth through harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing and ethanol use, and your overview correctly identifies the cycle returning carbon dioxide to the plants. This gives the reader a relevant account of the process. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows sugars produced by processing before microbes are added, whereas “addition of sugars into microbes” reverses or blurs that sequence. The claim that there are eleven steps is not clearly supported by the diagram, and the role of ethanol being used by three transport types could be reported more precisely. Develop the overview around the conversion stages and the carbon cycle, then describe each transition accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs that move broadly from plant growth to fuel use. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “In the next step,” and “Following this” help guide the reader through the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and several transitions join too many stages in one sentence. For example, “In the next step…following this, then…” makes the sequence cumbersome, while the final sentence about plants and carbon dioxide feels detached from the preceding account. Use fewer, more precise linking expressions and group related stages into clear sentences so that each transition is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There are also attempts at more specific description, such as “thread like structure.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this task: “reflecting” does not describe how sunlight and carbon dioxide support plant growth, “laborartory” is not shown in the diagram, and “practical” does not fit the processing stage. Spelling errors such as “enery,” “receving,” and “whic” also reduce precision. Choose vocabulary that describes only the labelled stages and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the overall sequence can usually be understood. However, control of sentence structure and agreement is inconsistent. The overview contains a comma splice in “production of biofuel involve eleven steps, it commence…,” and the verbs should agree with their subjects. Other examples include “where it produce biofuel” and “Plants and carbon dioxide plays,” which show problems with agreement and clause construction. The sentence beginning “Following this, after the processing…” is also difficult to parse because its clauses are not clearly connected. Practise building accurate sentences with one main clause and a clearly attached sequence or time clause, then check verb forms and punctuation.

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