Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The given diagram illustrates the procedure that is followed to produce biofuel (ethanol) from the sunlight and carbon dioxide.

Overall, the circular process consists of several stages, starting with the planting of trees and culminating in the chemical processing into ethanol that is later used for transportation.

In the initial stage, tree plants are growing for energy. Once the plants have matured, they are harvested by a tractor. The harvested products will undergo a pre-processing process, which break them into small cellulose by crushing. Following this, the cellulose goes for chemical processing to produce different sugar cells.

After the physical and chemical treatment steps, these sugar cells are added to microbes to convert into ethanol, which is ultimately used as a fuel to power vehicles such as cars, trucks, and planes. These vehicles burn up the ethanol, releasing carbon dioxide as waste into the atmosphere. The trees and plants, in turn, consume this as their food, and the cycle restarts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the ethanol production cycle. You have clearly described the progression from planting and harvesting to chemical processing and final usage. The overview is effective in highlighting the cyclical nature of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention all key inputs and outputs shown in the diagram, such as the specific role of sunlight and carbon dioxide in the initial growth phase, which you touched upon but could have integrated more precisely into the process flow. Overall, the information is well-selected and accurately reported.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary of the cycle. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Following this', and 'After the physical and chemical treatment steps' helps guide the reader through the process effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the stages of production from the final usage and recycling phase. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is clear throughout the text, making the information easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'matured', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'culminating'. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for a process description, there are minor instances where word choice could be more precise, such as 'tree plants are growing for energy' or 'pre-processing process' (which is slightly repetitive). Expanding your range to include more sophisticated technical collocations would further enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'tree plants are growing' (should be 'trees are grown') and 'which break them' (should be 'which breaks them' to agree with the singular 'process'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The majority of your sentences are clear and well-constructed. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles in technical descriptions.

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

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