Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-17

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 digram illustrates the process of formation of ethanol which is used as a biofuel.

Overall, the production of ehtanol is a cycle formed of nine steps. The energy in the form of sunlight and carbon dioxide is used to produce ethanol which is vital to run vehicles. These means of transportation give out carbon dioxide which is then used again for forming ethanol.

Firstly, plants and trees grow by absorbing energy in the form of carbon dioxide and sunlight. Next, these are harvested and sent for pre-processing. After pre-processing, cellulose is produced as the by-product. Cellulose obtained from the previous step is then chemically processed.

Upon processing, cellulose breaks down into sugars and microbes are incorporated into these sugars to form ethanol. The ethanol so obtained is used as a biofuel. Means of transportation like cars, trucks and aeroplanes run on ethanol. As a result, they give out carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide released by vehicles mixes into the atmosphere and is then again used by plants and trees to grow, and the cycle continues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production cycle. You have clearly outlined the process from the growth of plants to the final usage in vehicles and the subsequent release of carbon dioxide. The overview is concise and effectively captures the cyclical nature of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly highlight the key stages of the chemical transformation more precisely, as the transition from cellulose to sugars is a critical technical step. Overall, the response is well-focused and covers all parts of the diagram accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a brief overview, and distinct paragraphs for the process stages. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, and you have used cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Next', 'After', and 'As a result' effectively to guide the reader through the cycle. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the initial growth stages from the chemical processing and final consumption. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the steps is clearly established, which is essential for a process description.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'biofuel', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'digram' instead of 'diagram' and 'ehtanol' instead of 'ethanol'. While these do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations, such as 'facilitates the conversion of' or 'is subsequently utilized', to demonstrate a more sophisticated control of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically accurate, such as 'The carbon dioxide released by vehicles mixes into the atmosphere and is then again used by plants'. There are occasional minor errors, such as the article usage in 'the process of formation of ethanol' (which could be more naturally phrased as 'the process of ethanol formation'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not cause any difficulty for the reader. The control of punctuation and sentence structure is generally strong.

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