Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

CAMBRIDGE 19 TEST 3 ACADEMIC

The diagram illustrates the process by which a biofuel known as ethanol is produced.

Overall, the stages involve plants and trees being harvested and processed to generate sugars, which are then eventually converted to ethanol.

Sunlight and carbon dioxide act as sources of energy required by plants and trees to grow. When the trees and plants mature, they are harvested and taken to a machine to be pre-processed. This is the stage where the plant particles are converted to cellulose. The cellulose produced from the pre-processing stage is then processed further in order to produce sugars.

Afterwards, the sugars generated are placed in a medium, and microorganisms are introduced to act on them. It is the activities of these microorganisms that finally result in the release of ethanol. Subsequently, the resulting ethanol can be used as fuel for planes, heavy vehicles and small cars, all of which emit carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide emitted by these vehicles is then absorbed again by plants for growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the ethanol production process. You have clearly outlined the cycle from plant growth to the final usage of the biofuel. The overview paragraph effectively captures the essence of the process, and the body paragraphs follow the logical sequence of the diagram. To reach a higher band, you could improve the 'reporting of main features' by explicitly mentioning the inputs and outputs at each specific stage (e.g., the specific role of enzymes or the fermentation stage) rather than describing the process in a general narrative style. Overall, the response is accurate and covers all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a logical flow of information. You use cohesive devices such as 'Afterwards', 'Subsequently', and 'When the trees and plants mature' to guide the reader through the process. The paragraphing is logical, separating the growth/harvesting phase from the processing and final usage phase. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is clear throughout. To improve, ensure that the transition between the chemical conversion stages is slightly more precise to avoid a repetitive sentence structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'harvested', 'pre-processed', 'cellulose', and 'microorganisms' appropriately. The language is natural and fits the context of a technical process description. While the vocabulary is accurate, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or precise technical terminology related to the diagram (e.g., 'fermentation' instead of 'activities of these microorganisms' or 'by-products'). There are no spelling errors, and the word choice is consistently appropriate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'It is the activities of these microorganisms that finally result in the release of ethanol.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The use of passive voice is appropriate for a process description, which adds to the formal tone required for Academic Task 1. The sentences are generally error-free, and the few complex structures used are handled with good control, contributing to a clear and readable text.

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