Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 illustration depicts the manufacturing process of a biofuel, namely ethanol.

Overall, the process is cyclic and consists of several distinctive phases. Solar energy and carbon dioxide gas serve as the raw materials which commence the cycle. The fuel is used in transportation which recirculates the carbon dioxide gas back into the environment to continue the process.

Vegetation grows using light energy from the sun and carbon dioxide, and is then harvested by tractors. After that, the grown crops go through pre-processing machines which extract cellulose from the crops. Laboratories transform this cellulose into sugars, and through the addition of microbes, creates ethanol.

This manufactured biofuel has many applications in the transportation industry, starting from the cars and lorries plying on the road to the jet planes flying in the sky. All these transport media emit carbon dioxide gas back into the atmosphere, which, in turn, keeps the manufacturing process going

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production process. You have clearly outlined the cyclic nature of the process, from the growth of vegetation to the final application in transport. The overview is concise and captures the essence of the diagram. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention all key stages shown in the diagram, such as the specific role of the 'pre-processing' machines or the 'laboratories' in more detail. While the summary is accurate, adding a bit more detail regarding the transformation stages would provide a more comprehensive report of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically through the stages of the cycle. You have used cohesive devices such as 'After that', 'which, in turn', and 'namely' effectively to link sentences. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed process description. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the stages of the cycle is clearly established, which helps the reader understand the overall process without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a process description, such as 'manufacturing process', 'recirculates', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. The language is precise and fits the context of the task well. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors. To improve, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or technical synonyms to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary. For example, instead of 'creates ethanol', you could use 'facilitates the synthesis of ethanol'. Overall, the vocabulary is sufficient and used with good control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'Vegetation grows using light energy... and is then harvested by tractors.' The use of relative clauses ('which recirculates', 'which, in turn, keeps') adds complexity and clarity. There are very few grammatical errors, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The sentences are well-constructed and error-free for the most part, which allows for clear communication of the technical process described in the diagram.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.