Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16

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 given man-made process chart illustrates the process of making ethanol by using plants and trees.

Overall, it is crystal clear that there are approximately nine stages involved in completing the process. It commences with the growth of plants and trees and ends with the use of ethanol by vehicles.

At a glance, plants and trees grow by using sunlight and carbon dioxide. When they are ready, they are harvested. After that, the harvested material goes through pre-processing, where the plant material is converted into cellulose. This cellulose is then treated in laboratories for further processing.

Moving ahead, sugar and microbes are added to the cellulose to form ethanol. Then, the ethanol is ready to be used by vehicles. When vehicles use ethanol, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide is then absorbed by plants for their growth. Therefore, the process starts again from the initial stage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main stages of the biofuel production cycle. The overview clearly highlights the circular nature of the process, noting the approximate number of stages from the growth of plants and trees to vehicle consumption and carbon dioxide absorption. Key features, such as sunlight and carbon dioxide utilization, harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose extraction, and the addition of microbes and sugars, are accurately detailed. However, there are minor inaccuracies in mapping the sequence compared to the visual data; for example, the diagram depicts sugars and microbes slightly differently in terms of chemical addition, and the student's statement that 'sugar and microbes are added to the cellulose' slightly misinterprets the exact progression shown. Nevertheless, the response provides a well-developed, clear summary of the overall process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression that mirrors the circular nature of the diagram. The text is divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introductory overview and moving sequentially through the stages of production and consumption. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'It commences with', 'At a glance', 'After that', and 'Moving ahead' are used effectively to guide the reader through the cycle. Referencing is generally clear, with pronouns like 'they' and 'this' correctly pointing back to preceding nouns. Although some transitional phrases are a bit formulaic, the logical arrangement ensures that the information flows smoothly from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and functional range of vocabulary suitable for a process diagram. Terms such as 'man-made process chart', 'harvested material', 'pre-processing', 'atmosphere', and 'initial stage' show an attempt to use topic-specific language. There is some appropriate use of less common vocabulary, though certain phrasing is slightly repetitive or colloquial, such as 'it is crystal clear'. Word choice and spelling are generally accurate throughout the response, ensuring that communication is never hindered by lexical limitations. To achieve a higher band, the student could incorporate more precise scientific or academic synonyms for processing stages.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The student employs various subordinate and relative clauses effectively, such as 'The given man-made process chart illustrates the process of making ethanol by using plants and trees' and 'When vehicles use ethanol, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.' Grammatical control is generally strong, with frequent error-free sentences and correct use of the present simple passive voice, which is appropriate for describing a scientific process. Punctuation is also handled accurately. While sentence structures could display slightly more variety, the grammar is sufficiently accurate and does not impede understanding.

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