Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
It is important for everyone, including young people, to save money for their future.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.0)
The diagram illustrates how ethanol fuel is produced from plant material and how carbon dioxide is recycled during the process.
Overall, ethanol production is a cyclical process consisting of several stages, beginning with plant growth and ending with the use of ethanol as a fuel. A notable feature is that the carbon dioxide released when ethanol is burned is subsequently absorbed by plants, completing the cycle.
Initially, plants and trees grow by using sunlight and carbon dioxide. When they are mature, they are harvested and undergo pre-processing, which converts the raw material into cellulose. The cellulose is then processed further to produce sugars.
Next, microbes are added to the sugars, resulting in fermentation and the production of ethanol. This biofuel can then be used to power cars, trucks and aircraft. When ethanol is burned, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
Finally, this carbon dioxide is absorbed by growing plants, allowing the process to begin again. Thus, ethanol production forms a closed cycle in which plant growth, fuel production and carbon dioxide emissions are interconnected.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 2.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 2.0
The response suffers from a major task error: the student has written a Task 1 report describing a process diagram about ethanol fuel production instead of writing a Task 2 argumentative essay on the topic of saving money. Consequently, the prompt has not been addressed at all, as there is no discussion of whether young people should save money for the future. Furthermore, the length requirement has not been met, as the response contains only 175 words, falling well short of the 250-word minimum. Because the response is completely off-topic and severely under-length, it receives a low band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
Despite being written for the wrong task type, the text itself exhibits a clear logical structure typical of a Band 6 or Band 7 process description. The student uses logical sequencing and cohesive devices appropriately to guide the reader through the stages of ethanol production, such as 'Initially', 'Next', 'When', and 'Finally'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate the introduction, body details, and conclusion. However, because Coherence and Cohesion must be evaluated on the language the writer actually produced, this well-organised paragraph structure prevents the score from plummeting entirely, even though it addresses the wrong task.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used throughout the response is adequate and surprisingly accurate for describing a technical process. The student successfully integrates topic-specific vocabulary such as 'ethanol fuel', 'plant material', 'carbon dioxide', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'fermentation'. There are no spelling errors, and word choices are generally natural and appropriate for scientific description, with phrases like 'closed cycle' and 'raw material'. While there is no demonstration of advanced academic essay vocabulary due to the nature of the mistake, the range used is fully sufficient for the task attempted, earning a solid mid-range score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures, particularly passive voice constructions which are essential for describing processes, such as 'is produced', 'are harvested', 'are added', and 'is released'. The student also employs complex sentence structures correctly, using relative clauses and subordinate conjunctions like 'beginning with plant growth and ending with' and 'allowing the process to begin again.' Sentences are grammatically accurate with virtually no errors. The grammatical control is strong and would merit a higher band in isolation, but is capped here due to the severe shortness of the text.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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