Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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 diagram illustrates the stages of the production of biofuel known as ethanol.

Overall, the whole process complete a cycle, starts from consuming carbon dioxide and sunlight by trees and plants and follows by another steps to become a final product ethanol to be used by different modes of transport.

To commence with, carbon dioxide and sunlight is consumed by plants and trees to grow bigger. After becoming fully mature they are harvested and send for pre-processing where they cut into small pieces. Next cellulose is added to that pre cut pieces and go through processing again and turn to sugar.

After that microscopic microbes are added with the collected sugar to produce ethanol. Then this final product ethanol is used in various types of transports such as, air planes, trucks and cars. These automobiles emit carbon dioxide gas which release into atmosphere and again absorb by plants and trees along with sunlight to run this cycle of ethanol production again

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the ethanol production cycle, from the growth of plants to the final usage in transport. However, the description lacks detail in certain areas; for instance, the 'pre-processing' and 'processing' stages are described in very general terms without mentioning the specific inputs (like enzymes or heat) often implied in such diagrams. While the overview captures the cyclical nature of the process, the response would benefit from a more analytical approach to the specific steps rather than a simple narrative summary. The key features are identified, but the development is somewhat basic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving through the process chronologically. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, the overview, and the body stages, which aids readability. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'After that', and 'Next' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'follows by another steps' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Overall, the progression is clear, but the use of cohesive devices lacks the flexibility required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite limited and repetitive. Words like 'process', 'plants', and 'trees' are used frequently. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'pre cut pieces' (should be hyphenated) and 'microscopic microbes' (which is redundant, as microbes are inherently microscopic). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it lacks the precision and variety needed for a higher score. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations related to industrial processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Subject-verb agreement issues are common, such as 'carbon dioxide and sunlight is consumed' (should be 'are') and 'the whole process complete a cycle' (should be 'completes'). Additionally, there are errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'follows by another steps' and 'release into atmosphere'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to demonstrate a lack of control over complex structures, keeping the score in the mid-range.

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