Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28

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 below gives information on how a biofuel known as ethanol is produced.

Overall, biofuel production is a cyclical process. It consists of the pre-processing and processing stage. Firstly plants and trees are grown and harvested. Subsequently, the plant are crushed in a machine before cellulose is formed. After processing, microbes are added to sugars to produce ethanol. This biofuel can use to power aircrafts and motor vehicles.

At the beginning, plants and trees are grown with the help of energy (sunlight+ carbon dioxide). Afterwards, plant and trees and harvested with a machine. The harvested plants and trees goes through pre-processing where it is crushed in a machine. Following that cellulose is formed.

Furthermore, cellulose is processed into sugar. Subsequently, microbes are added to sugars to manufacture ethanol. This biofuel can then be used to fuel air craft, and vehicles. Afterwards carbon dioxide from aircrafts and vehicles is released into the atmosphere.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the biofuel production process, from the growth of plants to the final usage and carbon cycle. The main features are identified and the cyclical nature of the process is highlighted. However, the description is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the second and third paragraphs where the steps are restated rather than synthesized. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the information more logically—perhaps by separating the 'growth and harvest' phase from the 'chemical processing' phase—to provide a more analytical summary rather than a step-by-step narration of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'subsequently', 'afterwards', and 'following that' to link sentences. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs feels disjointed. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus, which will help the flow of the response feel more natural and less like a list of steps.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, covering the necessary technical terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'biofuel'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'This biofuel can use to power', which should be 'can be used to power'. There is also a lack of more sophisticated vocabulary that would demonstrate a wider range. To improve, try to incorporate more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'conversion', 'extraction', or 'facilitate', rather than relying on basic verbs like 'grown' or 'crushed'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors that affect the accuracy of the text. For instance, 'the plant are crushed' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'plant and trees and harvested' (should be 'are harvested'). Additionally, 'aircrafts' is incorrectly pluralized; 'aircraft' is the standard plural form. While you attempt some complex structures, the frequency of these basic errors prevents a higher score. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and pluralization. Increasing the variety of sentence structures, such as using passive voice more effectively to describe the process, would also help improve your score.

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

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