Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

The illustration depicts the production of a biofuel called ethanol.

Overall, there are seven steps involved in this cyclical process. It begins with the growth of plants and trees and progresses through to the production and use of ethanol in transportation, with the resulting carbon dioxide being fed back into the atmosphere to support further plant growth.

The process starts with the growth of plants and trees, which uses energy such as sunlight and carbon dioxide. The next step involves harvesting these plants. After harvesting, they are passed through an intermediate pre-processing step to extract cellulose.

Once the cellulose is obtained, it is passed through a processing step to extract sugars. After that, microbes are added to the sugars in order to produce ethanol, which is then used in different modes of transportation, such as cars, buses, and even aeroplanes. These vehicles are the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions, and this carbon dioxide becomes one of the contributors of energy for plants and trees, completing the cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production cycle. You have clearly outlined the seven steps and effectively highlighted the cyclical nature of the process, particularly the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and plant growth. The overview is concise and provides a good summary of the entire process. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and the information is accurate based on the provided diagram. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the 'intermediate' or 'processing' stages with slightly more detail regarding the transformation of materials, as this would further demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the diagram's technical flow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a summary paragraph, and a detailed body section. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically through the seven steps. You have used cohesive devices such as 'The next step', 'Once the cellulose is obtained', and 'After that' to link the stages effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed description. The flow is natural, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that the reader can easily track the cycle from plant growth to transportation and back to the atmosphere.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process accurately, including terms like 'cyclical process', 'intermediate', 'cellulose', and 'emissions'. The word choice is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary used is natural in the context of describing a scientific diagram. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or technical synonyms to describe the chemical or mechanical transformations, which would demonstrate a wider and more flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of relative clauses ('which uses energy such as sunlight...') and participial phrases ('completing the cycle'). The grammar is accurate, and there are no errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the text. To achieve a higher band, you could aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions, which are particularly suitable for describing industrial or scientific processes.

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