Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-25

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)

This diagram illustrates the production and use of ethanol which is largely used as a biofuel. Its production cycle involves various stages.

First of all plants and trees grow consuming carbondiaxide and sunlight from the environment. This provides main raw material which is harvested carefully and transported to pre- processing units. At pre- processing unit the plants are broken down to cellulose which later send to processing plant. At processing plants cellulose is treated and converted to sugars. However, in order to convert that sugar to ethanol microorganisms are added to sugar which finally convert it into ethanol.

Once the ethanol is prepared it is transported to various places to be used a biofuel for cars, trucks and aeroplanes. The combustion of ethanol produces carbon dioxide and results in rise of carbon dioxide levels in the environment which ultimately help more plants to grow. This is how the cycle continues and maintains ethanol use as a biofuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from plant growth to combustion. You have successfully identified the key features of the diagram and presented them in a logical sequence. However, the response lacks a clear overview or summary statement that highlights the cyclical nature of the process, which is a key requirement for Band 7+. While you describe the steps, the report could be improved by explicitly contrasting the input (sunlight/CO2) with the output (combustion/CO2) to better demonstrate the 'comparison' aspect of the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into three paragraphs: an introduction, the production process, and the usage/cycle completion. The progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'However', and 'Once', which help guide the reader. To reach a higher band, you should aim for a more varied range of linking words and ensure that the transition between the processing stage and the usage stage is more fluid, as the current structure feels slightly mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'microorganisms', 'cellulose', 'combustion', and 'biofuel' appropriately. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'carbondiaxide' (carbon dioxide) and 'pre- processing' (pre-processing). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations. For example, instead of saying 'plants are broken down to cellulose', you could use 'plants are processed into cellulose'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as missing articles ('at pre-processing unit' should be 'at the pre-processing unit') and awkward phrasing ('which later send to' should be 'which is later sent to'). You also have some issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on article usage and passive voice consistency will help improve your accuracy.

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