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, 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 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 and the subsequent release of carbon dioxide. The overview is effective, and the key stages are logically presented. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention all stages shown in the diagram, such as the specific role of 'fermentation' or 'distillation' if they were present, to ensure no minor details are omitted. The current summary is accurate and covers the requirements well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific stage of the cycle, which helps the reader follow the process easily. You have used cohesive devices such as 'After that', 'This manufactured biofuel', and 'which, in turn' to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the introduction, the production process, and the application phase. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the different stages of the cycle is clearly established throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'manufacturing process', 'recirculates', 'cellulose', and 'microbes'. The language is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or technical terminology related to industrial processes to demonstrate a wider range of lexical flexibility, though the current vocabulary is already quite effective for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writing demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Vegetation grows using light energy... and is then harvested by tractors.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are no major grammatical errors that impede communication. The sentences are generally error-free, showing good control over tense and subject-verb agreement. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with more varied complex sentence structures, such as using passive voice more extensively to describe the industrial process.

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

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