Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-27

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 diagram illustrates the process of production of biofuel which is also called ethanol.

Overall, it consists of various steps, starts from plants collecting energy from sunlight, then harvesting and pre- processing make cellulose. furthermore, by further processing in lab, sugar is produced. It ends with production of ethanol, which is then used in different vehicles and by providing carbon dioxide again to plants.

As it is evident that it is a huge process, which involves many steps. At the start, plants and trees take energy from sunlight, then harvesting of plants and trees starts, after that it comes in the pre-processing phase.

In the next step, cellulose is produced which further goes to the lab for processing. In lab, sugars are produced, in which microbes are added, which generate Ethanol.

Moreover, ethanol is used in numerous vehicles such as cars, trucks and planes. These vehicles then emit carbon dioxide, which is used by plants again. In this way process starts again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the initial energy collection by plants to the final usage in vehicles. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical focus on the key features. While the overview is present, it is slightly simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the stages more logically—such as the cultivation phase, the chemical conversion phase, and the final application phase—rather than listing them sequentially. The summary of the cycle is accurate, but the explanation of the 'lab' phase could be more precise regarding the transformation of cellulose into sugar.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression from the start to the end of the process. You use some cohesive devices like 'furthermore', 'at the start', and 'moreover' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the lab processing and the usage of ethanol feels a bit abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'this process') is used more precisely would enhance the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the process clearly. You use relevant terms such as 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'carbon dioxide'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs like 'produced', 'used', and 'starts'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe industrial or biological processes, such as 'conversion', 'synthesis', or 'emissions'. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is generally appropriate for the context, though it lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'process of production of biofuel' (which is slightly wordy) and 'starts from plants collecting energy' (which lacks a clear subject). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some minor issues with comma usage and sentence fragments. To achieve a higher score, you should aim for more varied complex structures, such as using passive voice to describe the industrial process (e.g., 'cellulose is converted into sugar') and ensuring subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout.

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