Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The figure shows the production cycle of biofuel called ethanol.

The plants and trees consume the natural energy like sunlight and carbon dioxide to survive and grow, then these plants and tress are cutdown/harvested then they get pre-processed for various uses.

The pre-processed will be used by converting it into the cellulose,

then this cellulose will be processed in lab or industries into Sugars. These consists of Microbes which emit ethanol, that is the process ethanol production from nature.

now lets see how this ethanol goes back to nature to start its cycle again, the produced ethanol will be used as fuel for vehicle's such as cars, trucks or flights, etc. They consume ethanol to fuel to run the engine of the vehicle, in this process the ethanol will transform as gas named as carbon dioxide, this gas will be released back to air from the exhausts of vehicle.

Then this carbon dioxide will used by plants where the cycle begins again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response provides a basic overview of the ethanol production cycle, identifying the main stages from plant growth to fuel consumption and the release of carbon dioxide. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. For instance, the transition from 'cellulose' to 'sugars' and the role of 'microbes' is described in a very informal, narrative manner rather than as a technical process report. While the main features are covered, the response would benefit from a more formal tone and a clearer summary of the cyclical nature of the process, rather than just listing the steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the cycle. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'now lets see' are too informal for an Academic Task 1 response. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'These consists of Microbes', where the antecedent for 'These' is ambiguous. The flow between sentences is functional but lacks the sophisticated linking required to achieve a higher band. Improving the variety of transition signals would significantly enhance the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and academic register expected in an IELTS report. There are several instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'cutdown/harvested' and 'in lab or industries'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word formation and usage, such as 'the process ethanol production' (missing 'of') and 'the pre-processed' (used as a noun). To improve, the student should focus on using more precise technical terminology related to industrial processes and avoiding informal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('These consists of'), incorrect pluralisation ('vehicle's'), and missing articles ('back to air'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and apostrophes. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common grammatical slips would be beneficial.

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