Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

 

The diagram below shows how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The diagram illustrates a cyclic process which involves the production of biofuel known as ethanol.

Overall, there are multiple steps taking place in a sequential order, in the first step, plants and trees are grown, and to culminate in the final step ethanol is converted to carbon dioxide and used in the form of energy.

To begin with,in the first step the plants and trees are grown using energy which consists of sunlight and carbon dioxide followed by, harvesting of the plants. Once the harvesting process is completed, the pre-processing of plant materials is carried out which separates the cellulose and fibres.

Once the required material is separated, the cellulose undergoes laboratory processing, which involves the use of certain chemicals to produce sugar and microbes are added to obtain ethanol. Ethanol is widely used as a fuel component used in cars,aeroplanes which emits carbon dioxide when used and the carbon dioxide returns back to the environment in order to repeat the process of producing ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main stages in the diagram, from plant growth and harvesting through pre-processing, cellulose processing, sugar production and the addition of microbes. The overview also identifies the process as cyclical and recognises the return of carbon dioxide. This gives the reader a clear account of the overall process. However, some details are inaccurate or unsupported: the diagram does not say that pre-processing separates cellulose and fibres, nor that chemicals are used in processing. The overview also says ethanol is converted to carbon dioxide and used as energy, whereas the diagram shows ethanol being used in transport and carbon dioxide released by the vehicles. Mentioning all three transport modes and explaining the carbon-dioxide loop more precisely would make the account more complete and accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response follows the process in a sensible order and uses paragraphing to separate the overview from the detailed stages. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with” and “Once the harvesting process is completed” help guide the reader. The final sentence also links fuel use to the return of carbon dioxide, maintaining the cycle as the focus. However, some connections are awkward or mechanically joined: “followed by, harvesting” and “Once the required material is separated” create unclear transitions, while the last sentence carries several stages and outcomes at once. Use clearer sentence boundaries and refer explicitly to the diagram’s stages, so the progression remains smooth and relationships between steps are easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “cyclic process,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” and “culminate,” and the meaning is generally clear. Some less common terms are attempted, but precision and natural collocation are uneven. “Plants and trees are grown” is less accurate than describing them as growing, and “returns back” is redundant. “Sugar” should be plural to match the diagram’s label, while “used in the form of energy” does not clearly express ethanol’s role as transport fuel. Aim for concise, diagram-specific wording and avoid adding technical terms such as “fibres” or “certain chemicals” when they are not shown. More precise vocabulary would improve flexibility without making the description sound overcomplicated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including clauses beginning “Once…” and “which involves…”, and the process remains understandable. Some grammatical and punctuation errors are present, however. In “in the first step, plants and trees are grown, and to culminate,” the sentence is awkwardly joined and the comma does not correctly connect the clauses. There are also missing spaces after commas in “To begin with,in” and “cars,aeroplanes,” and the relative clause “which emits carbon dioxide” does not agree with the plural vehicles. The phrase “the pre-processing … is carried out which separates” also has an unclear grammatical reference. Check sentence boundaries, agreement, and punctuation, while retaining the complex structures you are attempting.

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

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