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 release of carbon dioxide. The main features are identified, and the cyclical nature of the process is correctly highlighted. However, the description is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the second and third paragraphs where the steps are re-explained rather than synthesized. To improve, you should focus on grouping the information more logically to avoid repeating the same actions (e.g., mentioning the machine crushing twice). The overview is clear, but the report could benefit from a more integrated comparison of the stages rather than a chronological list.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion-like summary. Cohesive devices such as 'subsequently,' 'afterwards,' and 'furthermore' are used to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the transition between the second and third paragraphs is slightly disjointed. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by varying the sentence structure to avoid starting every sentence with a time-based adverbial. The overall progression is logical, but the paragraphing could be more balanced to ensure a smoother flow of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'biofuel,' 'cyclical process,' 'pre-processing,' and 'cellulose' used correctly. There is some repetition of basic verbs like 'grown,' 'harvested,' and 'crushed.' To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'cultivated' instead of 'grown' or 'converted' instead of 'processed.' There are no significant spelling errors, and the terminology used is appropriate for the context of a technical diagram, though the range of vocabulary remains somewhat limited.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('the plant are crushed,' 'plant and trees and harvested,' 'the harvested plants and trees goes'). Additionally, there is a passive voice error in the sentence 'This biofuel can use to power,' which should be 'can be used.' While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your accuracy.

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