Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-11

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 pictorial diagram illustrates production of ethanol

Overall, it a cyclic process which involves physical, mechanical and chemical processes. It starts from planting trees and ends with carbon dioxide produced from vehicles.

The first 3 steps consists of plants being processed into cellulose. Firstly, energy is required for the growth of trees and plants which is provided by sunlight and carbon dioxide, these trees are harvested on a large field. Next, these harvested plants are transported for the next stage known as pre-processing, in this step they are broken down into cellulose with the help of a machine.

The next following steps involves processing ethanol. It starts with processing cellulose in a lab, sugars is obtained from this method. Furthermore, addition of microbes takes place in these newly formed sugars, which produces ethanol.

The last steps of this cycle involves, utilization of ethanol as a biofuel for the transportation of vehicles such as cars, trucks and airplanes and in result release carbon dioxide into the air. Finally, this released carbon dioxide is then used as a source of energy for growing trees and plants.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the ethanol production cycle. You have covered the process from the initial growth of plants to the final release of carbon dioxide. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a more analytical overview of the 'cyclic' nature of the process. While you mention the stages, some parts are slightly under-developed, such as the specific transition between the lab-based sugar extraction and the fermentation process. To improve, ensure you highlight the key inputs and outputs more clearly, as this is essential for a process diagram task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into distinct paragraphs that follow the chronological flow of the diagram. You use transition words such as 'Firstly', 'Next', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the stages. However, the cohesion is occasionally mechanical, and some sentences feel slightly disjointed. For instance, the transition between the first and second paragraphs could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the paragraphing could be more balanced to ensure the flow of information is consistent throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'biofuel' appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'The first 3 steps consists of' (should be 'consist') and 'in result release' (should be 'as a result, they release'). While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing when describing the movement or transformation of materials.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that, while they do not impede communication, are noticeable. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The first 3 steps consists of') and missing articles or pluralization errors ('sugars is obtained' should be 'sugar is obtained'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some run-on sentences and comma splices. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for basic agreement errors would significantly improve your score.

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