Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The diagram displays the step by step process of a biofuel production known as ethanol.

Overall, the whole process goes through rigorous stages before turning into ethanol that are used in various vehicles, which starts with plantation of trees and harvesting them to processing in a lap into sugars with added microbes and ending with the produced co2 from different transports going back to the plants creating energy.

First of all, plants and trees are grown in a natural process from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Then when the trees are matured, they are harvested for pre-processing with the help of a machine, subsequently generating cellulose. Later on the lab tests start with these cellulose being processed in there chemically.

In the following stages, labs create sugars from the cellulose with added microbes which is basically the ethanol. They are used in different range of vehicles such as, cars, trucks and airplanes. These transports produce carbon dioxide, which naturally blends into the nature providing energy to the trees, repeating the whole biofuel production.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of plants to the final use of fuel. However, the description is somewhat imprecise; for instance, referring to the lab process as 'lap' and describing the conversion of cellulose to sugar as 'basically the ethanol' is technically inaccurate and lacks the precision expected for an Academic Task 1. While the overview captures the cyclical nature of the process, the report would benefit from more specific detail regarding the inputs and outputs at each stage, such as the specific role of enzymes or the fermentation process, rather than generalized descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an overview to the initial stages and finally the end-use. The use of cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Then', 'subsequently', and 'In the following stages' helps guide the reader through the process. However, the connection between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'which is basically the ethanol', where the antecedent is ambiguous. Overall, the progression is clear, but the flow could be improved with more varied transition signals.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors. For example, 'lap' is used instead of 'lab' or 'laboratory', and 'plantation of trees' is slightly awkward compared to 'cultivation'. The range is sufficient to convey the process, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Some terms, such as 'rigorous stages' and 'naturally blends', are used correctly, but the overall lexical control is limited, and the spelling error 'lap' detracts from the professional tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally understandable, there are several errors that persist. For example, 'ethanol that are used' contains a subject-verb agreement error (should be 'is used'). Additionally, the phrase 'with these cellulose being processed' is slightly awkward. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor issues with comma usage, such as the unnecessary comma after 'such as'. The majority of sentences are clear, but the frequency of minor grammatical slips prevents a higher score.

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