Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-29

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)

Ethanol which is a biofuel, its production has been illustrated by pictorial diagram.

Overall, it is clearly seen that it is a combination of man made and natural process and is very long and complex process. It starts with the harvesting of sugarcanes and extracting the sugars which is the crucial for the ethanol production and ends as a ethanol fuel as a final product.

To commence with, for photosynthesis plants and trees absorbs sunlight and carbon dioxide. After they are grown they are harvested ad sent for the pre processing in the factories. Moreover, there is a product extracted from it which is the cellulose which is further processed in the lab and during the processing it is treated with the sugars and there is injection of microbes to convert it into Ethanol.

Furthermore, once the biofuel is ready it is used in cars, trucks and planes as primary source of fuel. During usage these vehicles emit smoke which contains carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide which is released is now once again used for photosynthesis. Hence, the cycle continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from photosynthesis to fuel usage. However, the description of the process is somewhat inaccurate in its technical detail, as it conflates the biological process of photosynthesis with the industrial conversion of cellulose. While the main features are identified, the summary lacks a clear, analytical overview of the cyclical nature of the process. The student identifies the start and end points, but the explanation of the intermediate steps is slightly confused, which limits the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure that the description strictly follows the provided diagram without adding external, potentially incorrect information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader through the stages of the process. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the use of 'it' without a clear antecedent in the second paragraph. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the stages of the cycle more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some subject-specific terms like 'photosynthesis', 'cellulose', and 'microbes' used correctly. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'pictorial diagram' (redundant) and 'crucial for the ethanol production' (missing article). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. Improving the use of academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('plants and trees absorbs') and missing articles ('as a ethanol fuel'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some run-on sentences and minor errors in sentence construction. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of the text.

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