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 diagram illustrates how a biofuel- Ethanol is produced through several stages.

Overall, it is evident from the diagram that there are couple of steps through which the energy stored in plants is processed and converted into Ethanol. This is an admixture of natural and manmade process which continues as a never ending cycle.

First of all, plans and trees intake Carbon Dioxide from the environment, which with the help of sunlight produces necessary energy, allowing them grow properly. After the plants are matured, they are harvested and pre-processed with the help of technology. The pupose of pre-processing is to seperate the celluose from the produce, which is then processed with the chemical substances in the lab. Consequently, sugar is produced and microbes are added to this in order to convert it into Ethanol. This biofuel is subsequently used by different modes of transportation systems. Eventually, these vehicles transform Ethanol into Carbon Dioxide which then returns back to the environment and again used by the plants.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the ethanol production cycle. You have clearly outlined the process from plant growth through to the final use of biofuel and the subsequent return of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The overview provides a good summary of the cyclical nature of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly highlight the key comparisons or the most significant features of the diagram, such as the transition from biological growth to industrial processing. While the description is accurate, it could be more analytical by focusing on the transformation points rather than just listing the steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph detailing the process. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically through the cycle. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Consequently', and 'Eventually' to link the stages. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced; the overview and the detailed process description are merged into one long paragraph. Separating the overview from the detailed process description would improve the structure and make the response more professional and easier to navigate for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'admixture', 'matured', 'pre-processed', and 'microbes'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'pupose' instead of 'purpose' and 'seperate' instead of 'separate'. Additionally, the phrase 'there are couple of steps' is missing an article ('a couple of'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise technical or descriptive collocations would enhance the quality of the writing and demonstrate a more sophisticated control of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'plans and trees intake' (should be 'plants') and 'again used by the plants' (missing the auxiliary verb 'is'). The sentence 'This is an admixture of natural and manmade process' also requires an article ('a process'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy would help in achieving a higher band score.

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

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