Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05

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 illustration below depicts process of producing biofuel called ethanol.

Overall, the cyclical procedure contains several steps starting with harvesting the plants and ending with the release of carbon dioxide which is then again used by plants to grow.

The process begins with plants bring growing by taking energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide. once the plants have fully grown, they are harvested and sent for pre-processing. Following this the harvested material is prepared and cellulose is produced. The cellulose then underwent processing which convert it into sugar.

Following this the microbes are added into sugar which produced ethanol, the ethanol then used as fuel for different types of transport such as cars, trucks and aircraft. Those vehicles then release carbon dioxide into atmosphere.

the carbon dioxide released by the use of ethanol returns to the beginning of cycle. This carbon dioxide then absorbed by plants to get energy along with sunlight which help them to grow.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production process. You have provided a clear overview and followed the sequence of the diagram logically. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the stages. For example, while you mention the conversion of cellulose to sugar and then to ethanol, the connection between these stages could be more clearly articulated to show a deeper understanding of the process. The response covers all parts of the task, but the level of detail is basic, which prevents it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure you highlight the key inputs and outputs more explicitly throughout the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph describing the process, and a concluding sentence regarding the cycle. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Following this' and 'The process begins with' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is underdeveloped; the entire process is condensed into one block, which makes the text feel slightly cramped. Additionally, some transitions are repetitive. To improve, try to group related steps into distinct paragraphs—for instance, separating the plant growth/harvesting phase from the industrial conversion phase—and use a wider variety of linking words to improve the flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the process clearly. You use relevant technical terms such as 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'ethanol'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'plants bring growing' (should be 'plants are grown') and 'cyclical procedure contains' (should be 'cycle consists of'). There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns to describe industrial processes, such as 'fermentation', 'conversion', or 'extraction', and ensure your word choices are grammatically accurate in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'plants bring growing' is incorrect, and 'the ethanol then used as fuel' is missing a verb (should be 'is then used'). There are also issues with article usage, such as 'into atmosphere' (should be 'into the atmosphere'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures, such as using passive voice more consistently for process descriptions, would also be beneficial.

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

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