Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16

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 7.0)

The process diagram has been displayed that shows the steps involved in the production and consumption of a biofuel named ethanol. Overall, the chemical is produced in seven steps while consumption requires only one.

To begin with, carbon dioxide and sunlight are used to help the trees grow. Once they reach the required size they are cut down and harvested. The trees are brough into a pre-processing facility which extracts the substance 'Cellulose' from the trees. This substance is then processed and is transformed into sugars. Following that, microbes are addded to the sugars which consume it to produce ethanol.

Secondly, ethanol is used as a fuel that can replace petrol and diesel, powering planes, trucks and cars. Interestingly the cars burn the ethanol to produce carbon dioxide again, the substance ethanol was made of.

The diagram is itself a cyclical process chart where the final product, i.e. carbon dioxide, is the reactant needed to make an essential product, e.g. ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production process. You have clearly outlined the seven-step production cycle and the subsequent consumption phase. The overview is effective, highlighting the cyclical nature of the process. However, to reach a higher band, you could provide more specific detail on the transition between stages, such as the specific conditions required for the fermentation of sugars by microbes. The comparison between the reactant (carbon dioxide) and the final product is a strong analytical point that demonstrates a good grasp of the diagram's overall logic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The use of transition signals like 'To begin with', 'Following that', and 'Secondly' helps guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the production phase from the consumption phase. While the flow is generally smooth, some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary the sentence structure further to create a more natural progression of ideas, ensuring that the link between the cyclical nature of the process and the individual steps is more seamlessly integrated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'pre-processing facility', 'reactant', and 'cyclical process' correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'microbes are addded to the sugars which consume it' (should be 'consume them' to agree with 'sugars'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated, precise terminology that would elevate the response to a higher band. Focusing on more academic collocations related to industrial processes would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are a few grammatical slips, such as 'The process diagram has been displayed that shows...' (which is slightly awkward phrasing) and 'microbes are addded' (spelling error). Additionally, 'the substance ethanol was made of' is a bit informal. Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the majority of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound. To improve, ensure consistent subject-verb agreement and work on reducing minor errors in tense and spelling to achieve greater accuracy.

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

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