Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-11

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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates how ethanol is produced or a process of biofuel production takes place.

Overall, the process consists of eight stages. Beginning with the first stage that is absorbance of sunlight and carbon-dioxide by plants and trees, ending with final stage which is production of ethanol further used by vehicles. This is a natural type of process.

Initially, first stage is absorbance of sunlight and carbon dioxide by the plants and tress. Once, this stage has been completed second stage occurred thats is the palnts are taken for harvesting with the help of a vehicle. Following this, the plants and tress underwent the process of pre-processing by a machine that produced a resulting material known as cellulose.

Subsequently, the cellulose went under a processing in a laboratory. In the following stage sugar is produced. Once this step has been completed, microbes are added into the sugar. Finally, the last stage occurred in which biofuel called ethanol is produced. It is then further used by lorries and planes which further released carbon dioxide into the environment and the cycle continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main production sequence, from plant growth and harvesting through cellulose, sugars and microbes to ethanol, and you identify the process as cyclical. These are relevant features and the stages are mostly reported in the correct order. However, the overview says there are eight stages, while the diagram shows more steps, and it incorrectly presents ethanol production as the final stage: the fuel is used by a car, truck and aeroplane, whose carbon dioxide returns to the plants. The account also says plants are taken for harvesting by a vehicle and that processing occurs in a laboratory, details not established by the diagram. Your response addresses the task, but some key features and distinctions need fuller, more accurate coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction and overview are followed by stages in sequence, with transitions such as “Initially,” “Following this,” “Subsequently” and “Finally.” This makes the process generally easy to follow. Some linking is mechanical or repetitive, however, particularly the repeated “Once this stage has been completed” pattern, and the overview’s claim that ethanol is the final stage conflicts with the later description of transport and carbon dioxide. The final sentence also compresses fuel use, emissions and the cycle into one long chain, making the relationships less clear. Use paragraphing to separate the overview from the detailed stages, and connect the transport and carbon-recycling steps more explicitly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps communicate the subject. There is also some attempt at more formal phrasing, such as “the process consists of” and “underwent.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “absorbance” is not the right noun for plants taking in sunlight and carbon dioxide, “went under a processing” is awkward, and “sugar is produced” is less precise than “sugars are produced.” Spelling errors such as “tress,” “thats” and “palnts” also weaken control. Aim for accurate process collocations and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex forms, including the relative clause in “a material known as cellulose” and the time clause beginning “Once.” The sequence remains understandable, but grammatical control is uneven. For example, “Beginning with the first stage … ending with final stage” is a fragment, while “Once, this stage has been completed second stage occurred” has faulty punctuation and tense use. Articles and sentence structure also need attention in “ending with final stage” and “the cellulose went under a processing.” Use complete sentences with consistent present tense for a process diagram, and check article use and clause boundaries. These recurring errors limit accuracy, although the main meaning is usually recoverable.

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