Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-29

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 6.5)

The given plan describes the process that how the biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Overall, there are 7 processes involved in the creation of ethanol. It is a cyclic process. The plants and trees are grown initially, then harvested and passed through many processes, the product ethanol has been created, then used within different transport sectors. The carbon dioxide emitted from different vehicles is again absorbed by plants.

Firstly, energy coming from sunlight and carbon dioxide is absorbed by woodland that has been grown firstly, then harvested and has passed through the pre-processing stage. From pre-processed plants the cellulose is extracted. The extracted material is processed with chemicals and a main ingredient sugar has been generated.

Finally, the microbes are combined with sugar and ethanol is produced. In all type of vehicles, it is used. When the ethanol is used during transportation, the automobiles emit the carbon dioxide in the air and then plants again absorb it as a source of energy . The given steps are repeated and ethanol is produced continuously.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all stages of the ethanol production process, from the growth of plants to the final combustion in vehicles. You have successfully identified the cyclic nature of the process, which is a key feature of the diagram. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, concise overview of the main stages. While you mention '7 processes', it would be more effective to group these into logical phases (e.g., cultivation, processing, and usage) to better highlight the flow. The summary is accurate, but could be improved by focusing more on the transformation of materials rather than just listing the steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Finally', and 'then', which help the reader follow the sequence. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the processing of cellulose and the addition of microbes could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall progression of information is logical, moving from the initial growth phase to the final consumption and recycling of carbon dioxide.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'emitted'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'the product ethanol has been created' is slightly awkward; 'ethanol is produced' would be more natural. Additionally, phrases like 'all type of vehicles' should be 'all types of vehicles'. While you attempt to use some technical vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs like 'grown' and 'passed'. Expanding your range of process-related verbs would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'When the ethanol is used during transportation, the automobiles emit the carbon dioxide...'. However, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text. For instance, 'the process that how the biofuel' is redundant and grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with article usage ('the product ethanol') and tense consistency ('has been created' vs 'is produced'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and avoiding redundant phrasing will help.

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

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