Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-15

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 delineates the multi-stage procedure involved in the formation of ethanol biofuel.

Overall, it is a cyclic process that involves the sequestering of carbon dioxide commencing with the use of plant materials and culminating in the production of ethanol which is then used as a fuel in transportation.

Initially, the plants and trees absorb the sunlight and carbon dioxide as energy. Once the plants have been matured, they undergo harvesting. The harvested material is then fed into a pre-processing machine which converts them into cellulose. The resulting cellulose is further processed in the laboratory and results in sugar formation. Additionally, microbes are added in the sugar to facilitate fermentation. Consequently, the resulting compund is ethanol which is used to power different modes of transportation like cars, trucks and aircrafts. These transit when operate releases a substantial amount of carbon dioxide increasing the carbon footprint.

Furthermore, the carbon dioxide that emitted from the vehicals go into the atmosphere, with an additional carbon dioxide that was released during the pre-processing stage, when combined with sunlight used by plants as energy source. Therefore, the carbon dioxide releases from production of ethanol is reabsorbed by the plants making it a continous cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of the biofuel production cycle. The overview clearly highlights that it is a closed-loop, cyclic process starting with plant growth and concluding with ethanol consumption and carbon dioxide release. Key stages, such as harvesting, pre-processing into cellulose, processing into sugars, the addition of microbes, and the final use in transport, are all reported accurately based on the visual data. The progression and the link back to carbon dioxide reabsorption are well captured, demonstrating a solid understanding of the diagram without major omissions or misinterpretations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised and easy to follow, featuring a clear introduction, an overall summary paragraph, and sequential body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once', 'Consequently', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader through the various stages of the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the production steps, and the environmental cycle. While referencing is generally clear, occasional awkward phrasing in transitions prevents the essay from reaching a higher band, yet the overall progression remains logical throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic process description, utilising terms such as 'delineates', 'multi-stage procedure', 'sequestering', 'fermentation', and 'carbon footprint'. Less common lexical items are attempted with reasonable success, though there are a few minor spelling and word-choice inaccuracies, such as 'compund' instead of 'compound' and 'vehicals' instead of 'vehicles'. Furthermore, the phrase 'These transit when operate' contains awkward phrasing. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning with good precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and conditional-like relationships effectively (e.g., 'Once the plants have been matured, they undergo harvesting'). There are, however, several grammatical errors throughout the text, including tense and voice slips ('Once the plants have been matured', 'carbon dioxide that emitted', 'the carbon dioxide releases from'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but minor errors persist. These errors do not impede overall communication, placing the response comfortably in Band 6.

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