Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 process demonstrates the stages involved in the production of ethanol.

Overall, there are basically eight stages from which ethanol is made. But the most visible factor was the carbon dioxide which were been exuded from aeroplane, a large truck and car, which directly combined with sunlight to produce energy, which then enabled the growth and development of plants and trees.

Energy was the initial and most significant factor needed to initiate the process. Sunlight and carbon dioxide were the main sources of energy, from which the development of plants and trees were able to ensue. After which, a bulldozer was used for harvesting the plants and trees, and then sent them for pre-refinement from which cellulose which is the compound that was to be broken down was gotten and then was now transferred to the final processing site, from the processing of cellulose, complex molecules of sugar were produced. Microbes were mixed into these molecules of sugar, which brought about the production of ethanol, which was also a major source of gas to transport facilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the overview is somewhat inaccurate. You describe the carbon dioxide from vehicles as a 'factor' that combines with sunlight to produce energy for plant growth; however, the diagram illustrates a cyclical process where plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. The description of the process is generally clear, but it lacks a professional, objective tone. You have identified the key stages, such as harvesting, pre-refinement, and the addition of microbes, but the explanation of the chemical transformation is slightly simplified. To improve, focus on describing the flow of the process more precisely without adding external interpretations that are not clearly supported by the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into two paragraphs, which is acceptable, but the progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by repetitive sentence structures. You use some cohesive devices like 'After which' and 'from which', but these are sometimes used mechanically or incorrectly (e.g., 'from which cellulose... was gotten and then was now transferred'). The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of events smoothly. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each sentence flows logically into the next without relying on repetitive 'from which' constructions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use some basic terms like 'gotten' and 'brought about', which are slightly informal for an academic report. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'exuded from aeroplane'. While you successfully use technical terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'ethanol', the overall range is limited. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'extracted', 'converted', 'fermented', or 'subsequently'. Avoid informal phrasing to maintain an academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'carbon dioxide which were been exuded' contains incorrect verb tense and passive voice construction. Additionally, 'from which cellulose which is the compound that was to be broken down was gotten' is a very long, convoluted sentence that lacks clarity. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'development of plants and trees were able to ensue'. While the meaning is generally understandable, these errors are frequent and occasionally impede the flow of the text.

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

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