Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-14

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 cycle represents a multi step process of synthesis of ethanol which is a biofuel.Overall the plants that grow by taking energy are cut down, processed through various chemical and biological methods and converted into ethanol which serves as a fuel for various vehicles to move.These vehicles release carbon dioxide to the environment which is in turn taken by the plants for their nourishment and in this way the cycle keeps on repeating.

Energy is very necessary for the plants and trees to nurture.Once the trees grow they are being cut down and the plants are harvested as they are ready by the farmers.The plants and trees harvested are first broken down by machine that separates the celluose which is of interest for labortaries.The cellulose is chemicaly treated coverting into sugars.The sugar resulted from chemical degradation of cellulose is then subjected to biological treatement by the addition of microbes that through certain bilogical reaction with sugars release ethanol which is the main source of fuel for transportation be it by air or by road.Ethanol is then supplied to cars, trucks carrying containers and planes for mobility.These vehicles use burn ethanol and in turn release carbon dioxide to the enviroment which scatters in the air and is absorbed by the plants and trees and this carbon dioxide along with sulight helps them grow.Thus the entire cycle continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the cycle, explaining that plants grow, are processed into ethanol, and that carbon dioxide from transport returns to support further growth. It also reports the main stages in sequence, including harvesting, cellulose, conversion to sugars, and the addition of microbes. This covers the central features of the diagram and shows a good understanding of its circular nature. Some details, however, go beyond what is shown: for example, the plants are said to be “broken down by machine,” and the cellulose is described as being “chemicaly treated,” whereas the diagram only labels pre-processing and processing. Keep explanations closer to the visual evidence and describe the three transport modes without adding unsupported specifics such as trucks “carrying containers.”

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised effectively into an overview followed by a fuller account of the stages, and the process generally moves in the same order as the diagram. Linking expressions such as “Once,” “then,” and “in turn” help show sequence and cause and effect. The overview also connects the beginning and end of the cycle clearly. However, the second paragraph is a long block containing many stages, so the progression becomes less easy to follow. Some links are repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “then,” and the final explanation restates the carbon-dioxide cycle already covered in the overview. Use clearer sentence boundaries and group the production stages separately from the transport-and-return stage to make cohesion more controlled.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “cellulose,” “biological,” “degradation,” and “addition of microbes.” These terms help describe the stages with some specificity, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for a process description: “synthesis” is less suitable than “production,” “nurture” does not naturally describe plant growth, and “release ethanol” is less accurate than saying microbes produce it. Spelling errors such as “celluose,” “labortaries,” “chemicaly,” and “enviroment” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, diagram-based wording and check spelling, especially for technical terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of sentence forms, including a complex overview with a relative clause and a sequence of subordinate clauses. These structures allow the writer to explain the cycle and its stages, but control is uneven. For example, “The plants and trees harvested are first broken down by machine that separates” needs clearer article and clause construction, while “These vehicles use burn ethanol” has an incorrect verb pattern. There are also tense and agreement problems in “they are being cut down” and “The sugar resulted … is then subjected.” Missing spaces after full stops and comma use further affect accuracy. Use consistent present simple for process descriptions and check each sentence for complete, correctly linked clauses.

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