Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12

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 diagram illustrates the stages involved in manufacturing a biofuel called ethanol.

Overall, the process consists of 8 stages, it begins with harvesting the grown plants and ends with the ethanol being produced after several processing steps.

Initially, plants and trees are grown using the different source of energies which is sunlight and carbon dioxide. Then these grown trees and plants are harvested in the next stage. The harvested trees and plants then undergoes pre-processing which leads to the extraction of cellulose from it. In the fifth stage cellulose is processed using different chemicals in the laboratory to convert it into a sugar molecule.

Finally, the microbes are added into the extracted sugar molecules to produce ethanol. This ethanol work as a feul for many automobiles, trucks and aircrafts which uses it and release carbon dioxide in the environment. Resultantly, this carbon dioxide is used by plants to grow and the cycle continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of plants to the final use of the biofuel. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the transition between the pre-processing stage and the chemical conversion is a bit vague. While the main features are identified, the response lacks a more detailed analysis of the specific inputs and outputs at each stage, such as the role of fermentation or the specific nature of the 'pre-processing' mentioned. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide a more comprehensive overview of the technical steps shown in the diagram, ensuring that the relationship between the stages is clearly explained.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of the process. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction and overview from the body of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Then', 'In the fifth stage', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical. The connection between the final stage and the environmental cycle is a good attempt at synthesis, but the transition could be smoother. Overall, the information is presented in a clear, coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'manufacturing', 'extraction', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'feul' (spelling) and 'aircrafts' (the plural of aircraft is aircraft). Additionally, the phrase 'different source of energies' is slightly awkward; 'various energy sources' would be more natural. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise technical collocations related to industrial processes would help demonstrate a wider and more flexible range of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly affect the accuracy of the writing. For example, 'these grown trees and plants then undergoes' contains a subject-verb agreement error ('undergoes' should be 'undergo'). Similarly, 'which uses it' should be 'which use it' to agree with the plural antecedent 'automobiles, trucks and aircraft'. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout, and the punctuation is generally correct. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and consistent pluralization.

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