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 step-by-step procedures of ethanol production cycle.

Overall, the production process involves several steps starting from plant growth to emission of Carbon Dioxide. It is clear that both the nature and industries are involved in the biofuel production.

The process starts with the with absorption of energy by the plants in terms of sunlight and Carbon Dioxide. This energy helps the plants and trees to grow further. The second step involves harvesting by means of tracks. The harvested products is then fed to a machine for pre-processing, which then produce cellulose. This is sent to the laboratory. After undergoing several processing steps, this cellulose is then converted into sugar. Next, microbes are added with this and finally it turned into Ethanol. After that, the produced fuel is used by different modes of transport, that again emits Carbon Dioxide. This emission starts the first step that involves absorption by plants. This is how the production cycle continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the ethanol production cycle. You have covered the process from plant growth to the final emission of carbon dioxide, which demonstrates a good understanding of the diagram. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a more analytical approach to the 'main features'. For instance, you could have highlighted the cyclical nature of the process more explicitly as a key feature in the introduction. While all steps are mentioned, the explanation of the laboratory phase is a bit vague. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the agricultural, industrial, and chemical stages to provide a more structured summary of the information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph detailing the process. The use of sequencing words such as 'starts with', 'second step', 'next', and 'finally' helps the reader follow the progression of the cycle. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, as the body section is quite dense. You could improve the flow by splitting the process into two distinct paragraphs: one for the agricultural/harvesting phase and another for the industrial/chemical processing phase. Referencing is generally clear, though some transitions between sentences feel a bit repetitive.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'absorption', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'emission'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'in terms of sunlight' is not the most natural way to describe energy absorption, and 'tracks' is likely a misspelling of 'tractors'. Additionally, 'added with this' is grammatically awkward; 'added to this' or 'introduced to the mixture' would be more precise. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise technical verbs would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'The harvested products is' should be 'The harvested products are' (subject-verb agreement), and 'it turned into' should be 'it is turned into' (passive voice). There are also minor punctuation and article errors, such as 'the with absorption' and 'the nature and industries'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of the passive voice for process descriptions will improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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