Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-17

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 below highlights different stages required to produce bamboo fabric.

Overall, these processes range from initially planting the bamboo and letting it grow, cutting it down, adding chemical substances to fabric production.

Firstly, Bamboo plants are planted in spring and left to grow until the autumn, where they get harvested.

Then, the saw takes care of cutting them into small strips. These strips get crushed to make liquid pulp. A filter seperates the long fibres to purify the liquid from remaining chunks of fiber.

After that, fibres are softening by adding water and other chemical substances such as amine oxide. Later, these softened fibres are spun to create yam, a ball-shaped object that has many strings of fibres inside.

Finally, weaving is done to be able to make fabric, a process which later allows for this fabric to be used to produce finished products, such as socks t-shirts, and other clothes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by summarizing the main stages of the bamboo fabric manufacturing process, from planting to final garment production. The overview provided in the second paragraph captures the general progression of the process accurately. The student reports the key features in logical sequence, covering harvesting, cutting, crushing, filtering, softening, spinning, and weaving. However, the response could be improved by making more direct comparisons or grouping stages more analytically rather than listing them step-by-step. Nevertheless, all essential steps from the visual data are represented without significant omissions or inaccuracies, earning a solid band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text exhibits a coherent overall arrangement and follows the chronological flow of the diagram adequately. Paragraphing is utilized, dividing the introduction, overview, and body steps into manageable chunks, though the paragraphing structure is slightly fragmented with many single-sentence paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Then', 'After that', and 'Finally' are employed to guide the reader through the sequence, but referencing is occasionally mechanical. While the logical progression is clear throughout, the cohesion could be enhanced by integrating sentences more smoothly to avoid a choppy feel.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a process, incorporating terms like 'harvested', 'liquid pulp', 'amine oxide', and 'softened fibres'. However, there are a few spelling and typographical errors, such as 'seperates' instead of 'separates' and 'yam' instead of 'yarn', along with minor phrasing awkwardness like 'the saw takes care of cutting'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient for the task, though precision and accuracy need minor tightening to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordinate clauses such as 'a process which later allows for this fabric to be used'. There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, notably 'fibres are softening by adding water' where a passive voice or active structure is mishandled (should be 'are softened' or 'soften'). Punctuation has occasional minor lapses, such as missing commas in lists (e.g., 'socks t-shirts'). Despite these errors, communication is not impeded, and the sentence structures remain generally comprehensible.

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