Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-17

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 process diagram illustrates the production of ethanol. The information shows the whole process of biofuel production. First of all, plants get energy and sunlight from the sun, which is essential for their growth; carbon dioxide is another major element that plays a crucial role in their growth. After they receive these elements from nature, their growth begins, and then these plants and trees are harvested by the farmers. After this initial process, then comes the pre-processing, where they transform them into cellulose; at this point, they process the cellulose, and this metamorphosis results in sugar. microbes added to the sugar, and finally ethanol is ready. Ethanol is then used in different vehicles such as trucks, airplanes, and cars. At the end, carbon dioxide is released by these vehicles and helps plants to grow again. This never ending circle results in to the well being of the Environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all the main stages of the biofuel production cycle shown in the diagram, from energy absorption and plant growth to harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose formation, sugar conversion, and the addition of microbes to create ethanol. The cyclical nature of the process, including the release of carbon dioxide by vehicles and its reabsorption by plants, is accurately reported. However, the response falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 148 words. This minor length penalty prevents the task achievement score from reaching higher, but the content itself demonstrates a sound overview and accurate reporting of the visual data. Band score: 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall logical arrangement and follows the sequential steps of the diagram chronologically. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'After this initial process', and 'finally' are used to guide the reader through the stages. However, the text is presented as a single monolithic paragraph rather than being divided into logical sections or paragraphs. Furthermore, referencing and sentence linking become slightly awkward in places, such as 'microbes added to the sugar', where a verb is missing. While progression is maintained, the lack of paragraphing and occasional mechanical cohesion limit the score. Band score: 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a technical process, incorporating terms like 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'metamorphosis', and 'microbes'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though word choice and collocation are occasionally imprecise, such as 'this metamorphosis results in sugar' or 'results in to the well being of the Environment'. Spelling is generally accurate, and communication is not impeded by lexical errors. To achieve a higher band, a wider variety of precise verbs and process-specific terminology would be needed. Band score: 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'plants get energy and sunlight from the sun, which is essential for their growth'. However, there are notable grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, most evident in the clause 'microbes added to the sugar', which lacks a main verb (e.g., 'microbes are added'). Punctuation and sentence boundaries are generally manageable, but run-on tendencies appear in longer sentences. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they prevent the text from achieving a higher level of grammatical control. Band score: 6.0.

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