Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-02

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 flowchart shows the production steps of a biofuel which is ethanol. At a glance, ethanol is used as a fuel by different transport vehicles such as airplanes, trucks and cars.

To begin with, vegetations such as plants and trees grow by receiving energy from the nature. This energy mostly contains sunlight and a greenhouse gas called carbon dioxide. Secondly, after the trees have grown to a certain level they are harvested by the farmers with use of tractors. After this stage is complete, the harvested products are sent to a facility where they are pre-processed and converted to small granules. These small granules contain cellulose, which when further processed in an advanced chemical processing setup yield sugars as a byproduct. Finally, when some micro-organisms such as microbes are added to this derived sugars ethanol is produced. Moreover, ethanol can be used as fuel in various means of road transport such as 4 wheelers, heavy trucks, and also surprisingly as an aviation fuel to power airplanes. Eventually, the carbon dioxide produced after the fuel combustion gets added to the environment and can be re-used by vegetations to grow.

To sum up, ethanol requires rigorous processing steps in order to be successfully used as a fuel.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource7.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall7.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the ethanol production process. You have clearly described the cycle from the growth of vegetation to the final combustion and reuse of carbon dioxide. The overview is present, and the key features are highlighted. To reach a higher band, ensure that the distinction between the 'production' phase and the 'application' phase is more clearly delineated as a summary of the process. You have covered all parts of the task well, and the information is accurate based on the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The use of sequencing words such as 'To begin with', 'Secondly', and 'Finally' helps guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the process description from the summary. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'cellulose', 'byproduct', 'combustion', and 'micro-organisms'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'receiving energy from the nature' (should be 'from nature') and 'with use of tractors' (should be 'using tractors'). However, these do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing like 'small granules' when describing the pre-processing stage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'this derived sugars' (should be 'these derived sugars') and 'vegetations' (which is typically an uncountable noun in this context). Punctuation is generally sound, though some sentences could be refined for better flow. The majority of your sentences are clear and error-free, and the errors present do not cause any difficulty for the reader. You have shown a good level of control over your writing.

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