Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

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 following diagram illustrates the process of producing the ethanol, a biofuel.

Initially through the photo-synthesis, the plants and the trees grow and are later harvested using advanced machinery such as tractors.

The next step is the pre-processing through which cellulose are made. Furthermore the cellulose are taken through procedures and after conducting this process the sugar is formed.

The sugar in then mixed with microbes which produced the ethanol. The ethanol is widely used by motor vehicles such as the cars , the cargo trucks and even the airplanes .

Carbon dioxide emission from such motor vehicles is then mixed with the environment .

The carbon dioxide emitted in the environment and the sunlight indulge into a mixture which converts into the energy.

This energy plays an vital part in the process of photo-synthesis .This completes the cycle and then the process of producing ethanol starts all over again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the ethanol production cycle, from plant growth to the final release of carbon dioxide. However, the summary lacks a clear overview or a distinct introduction that highlights the cyclical nature of the process. While the main features are identified, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. For instance, the transition between 'pre-processing' and 'sugar formation' is vague. To improve, you should group related stages more effectively and provide a more cohesive summary of the overall process rather than just listing steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized logically, following the sequence of the diagram. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is presented as a single block of text, which hinders readability. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Initially', 'The next step', and 'Furthermore', they are sometimes used in a repetitive or slightly unnatural way. The flow between sentences is generally clear, but the lack of paragraph breaks makes the structure feel less sophisticated. Using clear paragraph breaks to separate the production phase from the consumption/recycling phase would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the process clearly. You use relevant terms like 'photo-synthesis', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'biofuel'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'indulge into a mixture' and 'plays an vital part'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a limited range of sophisticated vocabulary. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and collocations, such as 'facilitates' instead of 'plays an vital part' or 'combines' instead of 'indulge into'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement, such as 'cellulose are made' (should be 'is made') and 'sugar in then mixed' (should be 'is then mixed'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article usage issues, such as 'the ethanol' and 'the cars'. While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede the reader's understanding of the process. To improve, pay closer attention to singular/plural agreement and ensure that articles are used only when necessary.

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

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