Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-05

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 illustrate the process of manufacturing clothing fabric from bamboo tree. Bamboo is one of the most exquisite plant on earth. The process comprises of nine important steps. This process starts with the grown bamboo plants. Bamboo plants are planted in spring and they are fully grown in autumn. In autumn these mature plants are harvested by with hands. Then these bamboos are stripped in to pieces by machine. These pieces are crushed to get liquid pulp. Which is later filtered. in filtration long fibres are separated from liquid. After filtration water and chemicals like amine oxide are added in soft fibres. Lastly these fibres are spun to make a yarn. Then the yarn is ready to be used as a fabric to make clothes like shirts, t shirts and soaks

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the student identifies the main stages of the bamboo manufacturing process, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully develop the response. The introduction includes unnecessary subjective commentary ('exquisite plant') which is not required in an academic report. To improve, the student should provide a more thorough description of the mechanical and chemical processes involved and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for a full explanation of the diagram's features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is presented as a single paragraph, which hinders the logical flow of the report. While there is a basic chronological progression, the use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat repetitive (e.g., 'Then', 'After', 'Lastly'). The lack of clear paragraphing—such as separating the harvesting phase from the processing phase—makes the text feel like a list of steps rather than a cohesive summary. To improve, the student should use a wider range of linking words and organize the information into distinct paragraphs to guide the reader through the different stages of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are some errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'soaks' instead of 'socks' and 'bamboo tree' (bamboo is a grass). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on simple descriptors. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate more precise technical terminology related to manufacturing processes, such as 'extraction', 'chemical treatment', or 'spinning', and ensure accurate spelling throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The diagram illustrate', 'one of the most exquisite plant') and incorrect preposition usage ('stripped in to pieces'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with fragments like 'Which is later filtered.' and 'in filtration long fibres are separated from liquid.' To improve, the student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct sentence boundaries, and incorporating a wider variety of complex grammatical structures to demonstrate greater control.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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