Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The diagram illustrates the process of biofuel production. It depicts how ethanol is made. The entire process consists of a series of steps and it is like a circle that starts from where it ends and vice versa.
The commencement of the cycle is from the plants. Energy in the form of sunlight and carbon dioxide is provided to the trees. Plants and trees grows and when the time comes the plants are harvested. After harvesting, pre-processing occurs to remove the defective plants and for the initial processing of the right trees. From pre-processing cellulose is derived which is then sent to factories for the processing.
The industries process the cellulose and get sugar from it. In the sugar microbes are added to get the final product that is ethanol. Then with the help of different type of transportations such as cars , trucks or even airplanes ethanol is distributed worldwide. Airplanes are used for export while trucks and cars for regional deliveries.
The vehicles used releases carbon dioxides in the delivery process, that takes us back to the square one where carbon dioxide and sunlight is used as an source of energy by the plants. This is how the entire ethanol production takes place.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully identifies the main features of the ethanol production cycle. You have clearly outlined the stages from plant growth to distribution and the subsequent return to the start of the cycle. The overview is accurate, and the information is logically presented. To reach a higher band, ensure you avoid subjective language like 'it is like a circle' and focus more on the technical progression shown in the diagram. While you covered the process well, a more precise summary of the transformation stages (e.g., cellulose to sugar to ethanol) would strengthen the analytical quality of the report.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs that follow the stages of the process. There is a clear progression from the initial growth phase to the final distribution and recycling of carbon dioxide. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'After harvesting' and 'Then with the help of', which help the reader follow the sequence. However, the transitions between some sentences feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the relationship between the stages is more fluidly expressed rather than just listing them sequentially.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'harvested' appropriately. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'get sugar from it' and 'get the final product'. These are a bit informal for an academic report. Using more precise verbs like 'extract', 'convert', or 'yield' would elevate the tone of your writing. The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Plants and trees grows' (subject-verb agreement) and 'releases carbon dioxides' (incorrect pluralization). Additionally, 'as an source' should be 'as a source'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage. Incorporating more varied complex structures, such as passive voice constructions, would also help demonstrate better grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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