Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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 production of a biofuel called ethanol.

Overall, the process consists of 10 stages. It is a man-made process. begins with the energy supplied to plants and trees for grow and ends with carbon dioxide released from the cars, truck and plane.

In the initial stages, energy in the form of sunlight and carbon dioxide are taken by the plants and trees to grow, After then, plants and trees which are grown are harvested by harvesting machine. The harvested pants and trees are then taken to pre-processing stage, which helps to remove cellulose.

In the remaining stages, cellulose is then converted into sugars molecules before going to the processing stage. Finally, microbes are added with the sugars molecules, which gives a final product Ethanol. Ethanol is then used in different transporting vehicle like cars, trucks and also in plane, which releases carbon dioxide which is then used as an energy sources by many plants and trees

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production process, from the initial growth of plants to the final usage in vehicles. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the cyclical nature of the process. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the conversion process (cellulose to sugar to ethanol) is slightly simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on synthesizing the information more effectively, perhaps by grouping the stages into logical phases (e.g., cultivation, processing, and distribution) rather than listing them sequentially. The inclusion of the carbon cycle aspect is good, but it needs to be integrated more smoothly into the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is a reasonable structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally awkward. For example, phrases like 'After then' and 'In the remaining stages' are used to link ideas, but they feel a bit mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the transition between the production process and the final usage could be improved to show a better flow. Paragraphing is present, but the introduction and the body paragraphs could be more balanced to improve the overall readability and logical progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the process. You use relevant terms such as 'biofuel', 'cellulose', 'harvested', and 'microbes'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'energy supplied to plants... for grow' (should be 'for growth') and 'sugars molecules' (should be 'sugar molecules'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs and nouns. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology related to industrial processes and avoid repetitive phrasing. Spelling is generally accurate, but the word choice errors slightly hinder the sophistication of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'energy... are taken' (subject-verb agreement error), 'plants and trees which are grown are harvested' (clunky phrasing), and 'added with the sugars' (incorrect preposition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage and sentence fragments like 'It is a man-made process.' These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a lack of control over more complex grammatical structures. Increasing the variety of error-free complex sentences would significantly improve your score.

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

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