Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The given diagram illustrates the various stages in the process of producing ethanol, a kind of biofuel.

Overall, there are about nine main phrases in the ethanol production, starting with growing plants and trees and finishing with supplying ethanol for transportation and gas mission.

At the first stage in the process of making ethanol, a large number of trees and plants are grown. Thanks to the source of energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide from human and transportattin, plants and trees grow up and are harvested when they are mature enough. After being collected by machine, they are put into another machine where slice them into small pieces to form cellulose. This step is call pre-processing.

In the following stage, cellulose are taken to a factory where “processing” stage occurs. Subsequently sugars are extracted from original cellulose before microbes are added to make ethanol. It is then used as a tupe of fuel for a lot of means of transportation such as cars, trucks, airplanes. Finally, a huge amount of carbon dioxide which is released into the air become energy for process of “photosynthesis” of plants and trees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of plants to the final use of fuel and the recycling of carbon dioxide. The overview is clear and identifies the cyclical nature of the process. However, the description of the 'processing' stage is somewhat vague, as it fails to detail the specific conversion steps shown in the diagram (such as the fermentation or distillation phases). While the main features are reported, the lack of technical detail in the middle section prevents a higher score. The response successfully highlights the comparison between the input and output stages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the diagram. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'At the first stage', 'In the following stage', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the sequence. However, some referencing is slightly mechanical, and the transition between the pre-processing and processing stages could be smoother. Overall, the information flows well, and the progression is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'biofuel', 'cellulose', 'photosynthesis', and 'harvested' used correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'phrases' instead of 'phases', 'transportattin' (spelling), and 'tupe' instead of 'type'. Additionally, the phrase 'gas mission' is likely a misinterpretation of 'gas emissions'. While the range is sufficient to convey the meaning, the occasional inaccuracies and limited variety in technical terminology prevent a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('cellulose are taken', 'carbon dioxide... become energy') and awkward phrasing ('where slice them into small pieces'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some missing articles and minor errors in sentence construction. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching the 7.0 band, which requires more frequent error-free sentences.

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