Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30

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 picture illustrates the production of a biofuel called ethanol. The diagram explains how ethanol is made and it also exhibits this process is a continuous process and follows a circular motion.

The diagram displays the conversion of a biofuel, from the energy into ethanol. Biofuel production undergoes from several steps to produce ethanol.

Let's start from the growing of plants and trees, as these consume energy in the form of sunlight and carbon dioxide from environment. These grown trees are harvested using a harvester vehicle and then sent for pre-processing which converts it into cellulose. Then the cellulose is then processed with the help of chemicals to obtain sugar. After that microbes are added into this sugar and this is how ethanol is produced in the end. At last, this ethanol is consumed by vehicles such as airplane, truck, car, etc and these vehicles release carbon dioxide and this gas is released into the air, and that's how the plants gets carbon dioxide from the environment and the process goes on and on.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it lacks a clear overview of the cycle. The description is somewhat narrative rather than analytical, focusing on the sequence of events rather than highlighting key features or the cyclical nature of the process effectively. While the steps are identified, the response would benefit from a more formal summary of the transformation from raw material to energy and back to the environment. The inclusion of personal commentary like 'Let's start' is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 response, which requires a formal, objective tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into two paragraphs, but the paragraphing is not ideal; the introduction and the body are merged, and the body paragraph is quite long. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive, relying heavily on 'then' and 'after that'. The flow is generally logical, but the transition between the production process and the consumption phase could be smoother. The referencing is clear, but the overall structure lacks the sophistication required for higher bands, as the connection between the stages is described in a simplistic, step-by-step manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected for higher bands. Phrases like 'grown trees' and 'harvester vehicle' are functional but basic. There is some repetition of terms such as 'ethanol', 'carbon dioxide', and 'process'. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes (e.g., 'fermentation', 'conversion', 'raw materials'). The tone is occasionally too informal, which detracts from the academic nature of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'this process is a continuous process', 'undergoes from several steps', and 'the plants gets carbon dioxide'. These errors are noticeable but do not significantly impede communication. The use of punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence construction is often repetitive. A wider variety of complex structures and better control over subject-verb agreement would elevate the score.

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

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