Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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 process diagram illustrates how fabric is manufactured from bamboo.

Overall, the diagram consists of nine stages, beginning with the planting of bamboo plants and ending with the production of clothes.

Initially, the bamboo plants are planted. After that, the bamboo plants are harvested by a harvester. Subsequently, the harvested bamboo is transported to the cutting machine to be cut into strips. After that, the bamboo strips are crushed to make a liquid pulp. Moreover, it is filtered to separate long fibres from liquid and the water and amine oxide are added to produce a soft fibre.

Furthermore, the soft fibres are spun to make yarn. After that, the yarn is woven to produce soft fabric. Ultimately, the fabric is used to produce several garments, such as shirts, socks and dresses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the bamboo manufacturing process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words. Because the response is only 131 words, it is considered under-length, which significantly impacts the score. While the overview is clear and the sequence is logical, the lack of detail and the failure to reach the minimum length prevent a higher score. To improve, you should expand on the descriptions of the chemical processes (such as the addition of water and amine oxide) and provide more detail on the transformation stages to ensure the response is sufficiently developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph describing the process, and a concluding sentence. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After that', 'Subsequently', and 'Furthermore' helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the paragraphing is somewhat limited; the entire process is grouped into one block, which makes the text feel slightly dense. To improve, try to group the stages into two distinct paragraphs—perhaps one for the raw material preparation and one for the chemical and manufacturing stages—to enhance the overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using process-specific terms such as 'manufactured', 'harvested', 'crushed', 'liquid pulp', and 'spun'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, particularly with the frequent use of 'After that' and 'produce'. There is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. To improve, try to incorporate more varied verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'processed', 'converted', 'extracted', or 'transformed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and the grammar is generally accurate with few errors. The passive voice is used appropriately to describe the manufacturing process (e.g., 'bamboo plants are harvested', 'yarn is woven'). However, the sentence structures are somewhat repetitive, often following the same 'Subject + verb + object' pattern. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or participial phrases to combine ideas more fluidly.

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

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