Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-30
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The diagram below shows how fabric is manufactured from bamboo.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The diagram illustrates the steps of fabric being manufactured from bamboo. The manufacture of fabric includes 9 different steps a linear steps of planting bamboo to weaving to make fabric. Initially, bamboo plant is planted in spring which took some time to harvest, then in autumn it is ready to harvest. Farmers harvest bamboo once they are ready. Afterwards it is cut into strips and sent to crush. Crushing is usually done to make it liquid pulp. Once liquid pulp are made it is ready to send for filtration process. In this step, fibres which are long are separated from liquid. Afterwards, it is sent to soften fibres. To make fibres soft, water and amine oxide are mixed. When fibres are already softened, it is made yam. Yam is usually made by spinning fibres. Once yam is made it is weaved to make fabric. Finally, beautiful clothes are manufactured from it.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all stages of the bamboo manufacturing process, from planting to the final product. However, the overview is missing; a summary of the main features or the overall nature of the process (e.g., that it is a multi-stage industrial transformation) is required for a higher band. The description is largely accurate, but the inclusion of 'beautiful clothes' is subjective and not supported by the diagram, which is a minor lapse in objectivity. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview sentence after the introduction that highlights the key stages or the transformation involved.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised chronologically, which is appropriate for a process diagram. However, the text is presented as a single block paragraph, which hinders readability and fails to demonstrate effective paragraphing skills. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Initially', 'Afterwards', and 'Finally', the flow is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the crushing stage and the filtration process is clear, but the lack of paragraph breaks makes the text feel like a list of steps rather than a cohesive report. Using separate paragraphs for the preparation, processing, and final production stages would significantly improve the structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using process-specific terms like 'harvest', 'crush', 'liquid pulp', 'filtration', and 'spinning'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'it is made yam' (should be 'it is made into yarn') and 'weaved' (the past participle of weave is 'woven'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs. To reach a higher band, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary such as 'converted into', 'subsequently', 'extracted', and 'processed' to describe the mechanical and chemical changes more professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'bamboo plant is planted' (missing article 'the'), 'liquid pulp are made' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'it is made yam' (preposition error). Additionally, 'a linear steps' is grammatically incorrect. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would help improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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