Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-26

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 7.5)

The diagram illustrates the process of producing ethanol, a type of biofuel, from plant material and shows how carbon dioxide is recycled throughout the cycle.

Initially, plants and trees grow by using sunlight as an energy sources togather with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Once crops are matured, they are harvested and then undergo pre-processing, during which the raw plant material is prepared. This stage realeses a certain amount of carbon dioxide. The treated biomass is then coverted in cellulose, which is sebsequently sent to a processing plant.

During processing, the cellulose is broken down into sugars. Next, microbes are added to ferment these sugars, resulting in the production of ethanol. The finished biofuels is transport, including cars, trucks and aircraft.

Finally, burning ethanol in these vehicles emits carbon dioxide into atmosphere. This carbon dioxide, togather with that released during pre-processing, is absorbed by plants during photosynthesis, allowing the entire production cycle to begin again.

Overall, ethanol production is a cyclical process consisting several steps, begining with the growth of plants and ending with the use of ethanol as a fuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully covers all stages of the ethanol production cycle. You have identified the main features, such as the growth of plants, pre-processing, fermentation, and the final combustion phase. The cyclical nature of the process is clearly explained, and you have made relevant comparisons by noting how carbon dioxide is both released and absorbed. The overview is concise and accurately summarizes the process. To reach a higher band, ensure that you describe the specific inputs and outputs at each stage with slightly more precision, such as mentioning the specific role of sunlight and the conversion of biomass into cellulose more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs following the chronological steps of the process, and a summary overview. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once', 'Next', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the stages. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different phases of the cycle. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the stages is well-managed. There is a minor issue with the flow in the third paragraph regarding the list of transport modes, but this does not impede the overall clarity of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'biofuel', 'photosynthesis', 'fermentation', and 'biomass' correctly. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'togather' instead of 'together', 'realeses' instead of 'releases', and 'coverted' instead of 'converted'. These errors are noticeable but do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and ensure careful proofreading to eliminate these small slips, which would allow for a more sophisticated and professional tone throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are several grammatical errors—such as 'energy sources togather' (should be 'source together'), 'crops are matured' (should be 'crops mature'), and 'finished biofuels is transport' (should be 'finished biofuel is transported')—the meaning remains clear throughout. You show an attempt at complex structures, such as using participial phrases like 'allowing the entire production cycle to begin again'. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage will help elevate your score in this criterion.

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