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 of how the biofuel called ethanol is produced. Overall, there are seven processes involved in the creation of ethanol. It is a cyclic process. The plants and trees are initially grown , then harvested and passed through many processes ; the product, ethanol, is created and then used within different transport sectors. The carbon dioxide emitted from various vehicles is again absorbed by plants. Firstly, energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide is absorbed by the woodland that has been initially grown , then harvested, and has passed through the pre-processing stage. From the pre-processed plants, the cellulose is extracted. The extracted material is processed with chemicals, and a main ingredient, sugar, is generated. Finally, the microbes are combined with sugar , and ethanol is produced. It is used in all types of vehicles . When ethanol is used during transportation, the automobiles emit carbon dioxide into 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 successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production process. You have clearly outlined the cyclic nature of the diagram, moving from plant growth to harvesting, processing, and final usage. The inclusion of the carbon dioxide absorption cycle demonstrates a good understanding of the overall process. However, the response could be improved by grouping the stages more logically into distinct paragraphs (e.g., one for the production phase and one for the usage/recycling phase) to better highlight the key stages. While all parts are addressed, the description of the chemical processing stage is slightly brief, and more detail on the specific inputs or outputs at each step would elevate the response to a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is coherent and follows a logical progression, mirroring the stages shown in the diagram. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'then', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is presented as a single block of text, which makes it harder to follow the distinct phases of the process. To improve, you should use paragraph breaks to separate the introduction/overview from the detailed process description. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly repetitive, and the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking phrases to connect the stages more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'pre-processing' accurately. The language is generally appropriate for a process description. However, there is some repetition of basic verbs like 'produced' and 'grown'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary and avoid repeating simple structures. For instance, instead of saying 'the product, ethanol, is created', you could use 'ethanol is synthesized' or 'derived'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'When ethanol is used during transportation, the automobiles emit carbon dioxide into the air'. While the meaning is always clear, there are some punctuation errors, particularly with spacing before commas (e.g., 'grown , then harvested'). There are also minor issues with article usage and sentence construction, such as 'the biofuel called ethanol' which could be more concisely phrased. The majority of your sentences are error-free, but the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. Focusing on more varied sentence patterns and ensuring consistent punctuation will help improve your score.

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

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