Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

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 process chart illustrates an eight-step cyclic process of a biofuel production known as ethanol which is involves various physical and chemical changes.

Overall, it comprises of multiple step which begins with the absorption of carbon dioxide and sunlight by the plants and trees which proceeds further and results in the formation and utilization of ethanol as fuel which releases carbon dioxide again which is then utilized by vegetation for their growth.

The process begins with the absorption of energy such as sunlight and carbon dioxide as a result of which trees and plants grow. This vegetation is then harvested for pre-processing which constitutes of separation of cellulose from the species. After that, the cellulose is processed chemically in industries and high- tech laboratories which involves separation of sugars as the product.

Furthermore, various bacteria and microbes are added into it to finally produce ethanol, which is used in vehicles such as cars, lorries and airplanes. These vehicles emit carbon dioxide into the environment after burning fuel which is then again absorbed the plants and trees to grow and the cycle repeats itself.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production cycle. You have clearly outlined the stages from the absorption of sunlight and carbon dioxide by plants to the final combustion in vehicles. The overview is effective in summarizing the cyclic nature of the process. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all technical steps are described with greater precision; for instance, the 'pre-processing' and 'chemical processing' stages could be more explicitly linked to the specific inputs and outputs shown in the diagram. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear, logical summary of the information presented in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the sequence of the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'The process begins with', 'After that', and 'Furthermore' helps guide the reader through the stages effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different phases of the cycle. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Referencing is clear throughout, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow from the initial growth of vegetation to the final emission of carbon dioxide.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'absorption', 'vegetation', 'cellulose', and 'combustion'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'which is involves' (grammatical error affecting lexical flow) and 'high-tech laboratories', which is a slightly informal way to describe industrial processing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise technical collocations related to industrial processes. The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but a more varied and sophisticated range of academic terms would elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly hinder the fluency, such as 'which is involves' (redundant verb), 'comprises of' (incorrect preposition usage; 'comprises' does not take 'of'), and 'absorbed the plants' (missing preposition 'by'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct usage of passive voice, which is essential for describing processes. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help improve this score.

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

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