Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 diagram shows the process of producing ethanol from plants and trees. It also shows how carbon dioxide is involved in this process.

Overall, there are many stages in this process. It starts when plants and trees grow and it ends when ethanol is used by vehicles. After using ethanol, carbon dioxide is produced and this is used again by the plants.

First of all, plants and trees grow with the help of sunlight and carbon dioxide. When they are fully grown, they are harvested. After harvesting, the plants go to a pre-processing stage. In this stage, the plants are changed into cellulose. The cellulose is then taken to a processing stage, where it becomes sugars.

After that, microbes are added to the sugars and ethanol is made. The ethanol can be used for different transport, such as cars, trucks and airplanes. When these vehicles use ethanol, they produce carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide goes back into the process and is used by plants for growing. Therefore, the process is repeated again from the beginning.

The process is quite long and it has different stages before ethanol can be produced and used.

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 plant growth to harvesting, processing, and final usage. The inclusion of the carbon cycle aspect is a strong point, as it demonstrates a good understanding of the diagram's cyclical nature. However, to reach a higher band, you should aim to integrate the information more analytically rather than just listing the steps chronologically. For instance, highlighting the transformation from raw material to energy source more explicitly would improve the summary. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear, accurate overview of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving naturally through the stages of the process. You use cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'After that', and 'Therefore' to link your sentences effectively. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the flow could be further enhanced by using a wider variety of linking phrases to avoid a slightly repetitive structure. The referencing is clear, and the overall arrangement of information is coherent throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'harvested', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', and 'microbes' correctly. This shows a good grasp of the specific terminology required for a process description. However, the vocabulary is somewhat basic in places, relying on simple verbs like 'shows', 'made', and 'changed'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe the chemical or mechanical transformations occurring in the diagram. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choices do not impede communication, which is a positive aspect of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are grammatically accurate, and your control of verb tenses is consistent, which helps maintain clarity. There are no significant errors that impede understanding. To move to a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated complex structures, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The cellulose is then subjected to a processing stage') or relative clauses, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility. Punctuation is generally used correctly, supporting the overall readability of your report.

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

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