Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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 diagram illustrates the process by which ethanol biofuel is produced from plant material and how carbon dioxide circulates throughout the cycle.

Overall, ethanol production is a hard process that begins with the growth of plants and trees and ends with the use of ethanol as a fuels . A key feature of the system is that the carbon dioxide released during production and consumption is reabsorbed by plants, creating a continuous cycle.

initially, plants and trees grow by using energy from sunlight together with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Once mature, these crops are harvested and sent for pre-processing, during which some carbon dioxide is emitted. The plant material is then converted into cellulose, which is subsequently transported to a processing facility.

At the processing stage, cellulose is broken down into sugars. Microorganisms are added to the sugars to facilitate fermentation resulting in the production of ethanoles The finished biofuel is used to power various forms of transport, including cars, trucks, and aircraftes

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production process and the cyclical nature of carbon dioxide. You have clearly outlined the stages from plant growth to the final use of the biofuel. The overview is concise and accurately reflects the diagram. To reach a higher band, ensure that all minor details are captured; for instance, the diagram indicates that the cellulose conversion involves specific inputs or outputs that could be described with more precision. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and sequential body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'initially', 'once mature', and 'subsequently' to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the stages of production. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. To improve, ensure that the transition between the final stage of production and the use of the fuel is more tightly linked to the cyclical nature mentioned in the overview.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'facilitate', 'fermentation', and 'cellulose'. However, there are some spelling errors, such as 'fuels' (should be 'fuel'), 'ethanoles' (should be 'ethanol'), and 'aircraftes' (should be 'aircraft'). These errors do not impede communication but prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on accuracy in technical terminology and avoid pluralizing non-count nouns or adding unnecessary suffixes to standard words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The diagram illustrates the process by which ethanol biofuel is produced'. While the grammar is generally clear, there are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'ethanol production is a hard process' (a more academic choice would be 'complex' or 'demanding') and the aforementioned spelling errors. Punctuation is generally sound, though ensure consistency in sentence endings. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which supports a solid band 6.5 or 7.0 performance.

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

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