Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-03

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 picture shows how a biofuel known as ethanol is produced from the natural product.

Basically, the ethanol is the bio product that made from the plants and trees. There are six steps invloved in it. The process starts from the cultivating and harvesting and last is the addition of microbes.

Firstly, plants and trees grew from the energy like sunlight and carbon dioxide. Secondly harvesting the plants and trees then thirdly, pre processed and cellulose is extracted from it after that processing in industries the researcher made the sugar. In the sugar microbes were added that's way the ethanol is formed. The ethanol is very useful product in vehicles like plans, trucks and cars.

Finally, ethanol is produced from the natural materials. The cellulose is the gained from the raw form of woods by pre-processing. The sugar is the important role in production. The carbon dioxide is recycle again and the process is repeat. Biofuel is used in many industries and vehicles as a fuel.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response identifies the subject and gives a broad account of the main stages, including plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing, sugars and the addition of microbes. It also recognises the cycle by noting that carbon dioxide is recycled. However, some important details are incomplete or unclear: the diagram shows ethanol being used by cars, trucks and aeroplanes, with carbon dioxide from these forms of transport returning to the plants, but this link is only briefly and imprecisely described. The opening overview also says there are six steps, although the process contains more stages, and the final claim about use in “many industries” is not shown. A more accurate overview and fuller explanation of the cycle would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, moving from an introduction and overview to a description of the stages and a concluding comment. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly” and “after that” help the reader follow the general order. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview says the process ends with microbes, while the later description correctly places ethanol after microbes. The final paragraph repeats points about natural materials and sugar rather than adding a clear concluding insight. Some links are also awkward, as in “In the sugar microbes were added,” and the sequence of stages is compressed into one long sentence. Grouping the stages into clearer sections and using more precise references would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes” and “carbon dioxide,” so the reader can identify many of the key components. There is also an attempt to use more formal wording, such as “produced” and “extracted.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or repetitive. “The bio product” and “the natural product” are vague, while “the researcher made the sugar” does not accurately describe the processing stage. “The sugar is the important role” is an unnatural expression, and “plans” appears to be a spelling error for “planes.” Choose precise process verbs and standard collocations, such as “sugars are produced” and “carbon dioxide is recycled,” to express the diagram more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, and the main sequence is generally understandable. However, control of sentence structure and verb forms is uneven, particularly in the longer process description. For example, “the ethanol is the bio product that made from the plants” is missing a verb form, while “plants and trees grew from the energy” uses an unsuitable tense and construction for describing a general process. The sentence beginning “Secondly harvesting…” lacks a clear grammatical structure, and “The carbon dioxide is recycle again” has an incorrect passive form. Articles and agreement also need attention, as in “The sugar is the important role.” Practise describing processes with consistent present simple passive forms, such as “the plants are harvested” and “microbes are added.”

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