Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07

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 process by which, ethanol, a type of biofuel is produced from plant material.

Overall, the production of ethanol involves several stages from harvesting to pre-processing and then converting it into cellulose. In the processing unit these celluloses are converted into sugar threads. Following fermentation, the mixture undergoes separation, producing two main substances: ethanol and a solid by-product. The ethanol is then purified, while the solid material is removed as a separate by-product. Finally, the purified ethanol is stored before being transported to its destination. In contrast to this, the vehicles which are using biofuel are releasing carbon dioxide which is polluting the environment.

In summary, ethanol production is a linear process consisting of a series of stages, from growing and harvesting the raw material to processing, fermenting and purifying it, followed by storage and transportation of the finished biofuel. Keeping in mind the need of the future generation and sustainable development all the nations are shifting from conventional fuel to biofuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it fails to fully address the task requirements. A significant portion of the text, specifically the final sentence of the second paragraph and the entire final paragraph, discusses the environmental impact of biofuels and global energy trends. This information is not present in the diagram and is therefore irrelevant to the task. In IELTS Academic Task 1, you must only report the information provided in the visual prompt. By including external opinions and general knowledge, you have drifted away from the objective summary required, which limits the development of the actual process description.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is a reasonable structure. There is a logical progression from the initial stages of production to the final storage. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, and the transition into the final paragraph is abrupt. The inclusion of irrelevant information about environmental pollution disrupts the flow of the report, as it does not logically follow the description of the production process. While the overall arrangement is coherent, the lack of focus on the diagram's data makes the progression feel disjointed in the latter half of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'biofuel', 'fermentation', 'purified', and 'by-product' being used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing. The phrase 'sugar threads' is an inaccurate description of the process shown in the diagram, suggesting a lack of precision in technical terminology. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary to describe the specific chemical or mechanical transformations shown in the diagram rather than using generic or slightly inaccurate descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as the unnecessary comma in 'by which, ethanol, a type of biofuel is produced' and the awkward phrasing 'the vehicles which are using biofuel are releasing'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they indicate a lack of full control over complex structures. The punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction could be more varied and precise to demonstrate a higher level of grammatical flexibility.

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

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