Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

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 in the environment to continue the process.

Vegetation grows using light energy from the sun and carbon dioxide and is proceeded to be 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, create 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 modes emit carbon dixoide 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 stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of vegetation to the final combustion in transport. The overview is clear and captures the cyclic nature of the process. However, the description of the stages is somewhat brief. For instance, the transition from 'pre-processing' to 'laboratories' is a bit vague, and the specific role of the 'fermentation' stage (implied by the addition of microbes) could have been described with more technical precision to better reflect the diagram. Overall, the response covers all key features and provides a logical summary of the information presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a logical flow. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'After that', and 'which, in turn' helps to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different stages of the cycle. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from raw materials to production and finally to the end-use and recycling of carbon dioxide. The response is easy to follow and maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for a process description, using terms like 'manufacturing process', 'recirculates', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. There is a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the meaning clearly. However, there is a minor spelling error ('dixoide' instead of 'dioxide') which is a slip. To reach a higher band, the student could incorporate more precise technical collocations related to industrial processes, such as 'conversion' or 'by-product', to demonstrate a more sophisticated control of lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free and clearly constructed. There is good use of relative clauses (e.g., 'which extract cellulose', 'which recirculates the carbon dioxide'). While the grammar is generally accurate, there are minor issues, such as the phrasing 'is proceeded to be harvested', which is slightly awkward; 'is then harvested' would be more natural. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication.

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

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