Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 various stages involved in the production of ethanol, a type of biofuel, beginning from the cultivation of plants and trees.

Overall, the ethanol production process encompasses several key steps, including growth, harvesting, processing, fermentation, and transportation, with carbon dioxide emissions occurring at various phases.

Initially, the process starts with the growth of plants and trees, which utilize sunlight and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Once matured, these biomass sources are harvested, and in this stage, carbon dioxide is released. Following harvesting, the plants undergo a pre-processing phase where they are converted into cellulose and sugars. This transformation lays the groundwork for the subsequent fermentation process, which is crucial for ethanol production.

In the fermentation stage, microbes are introduced to the sugars derived from the biomass. These microorganisms facilitate the conversion of sugars into ethanol through a fermentation reaction. After the production of ethanol, the final product is transported to various locations for distribution. It is noteworthy that carbon dioxide emissions occur throughout the transportation process, indicating an environmental impact associated with each stage of the ethanol production cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all main steps of the biofuel production cycle, from the initial growth of plants and trees through harvesting, pre-processing, fermentation, and transportation. An adequate overview is provided in the second paragraph, summarising the primary stages and noting the carbon dioxide emissions. However, there are a few minor inaccuracies regarding the visual details: the student states that carbon dioxide is released during harvesting, whereas the diagram shows carbon dioxide released specifically during the transportation phase (via cars, trucks, and aeroplanes) and absorbed at the beginning via sunlight. Despite this minor misreading of specific arrows, the response fully addresses the prompt and presents a clear, coherent account of the diagram's process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is well-organised and demonstrates a clear logical progression from the beginning to the end of the process. The student effectively uses paragraphs to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once matured', 'Following harvesting', and 'In the fermentation stage' guide the reader smoothly through the sequence of events. Referencing is generally clear, and the overall arrangement follows the cyclical nature of the diagram appropriately, fitting the Band 7 descriptors well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response, incorporating less common items such as 'cultivation', 'encompasses', 'photosynthesis', 'biomass sources', and 'fermentation reaction'. Word choice is generally precise, although there are minor inaccuracies in mapping out the exact labels from the chart, such as mentioning carbon dioxide release during harvesting rather than combustion/transport. Overall, the lexical range is adequate to convey the technical steps clearly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and participial phrases effectively (e.g., 'beginning from the cultivation of plants and trees', 'which utilize sunlight and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis'). Grammatical accuracy is quite high; the majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled well. While complex structures are occasionally slightly formulaic, control over grammar is strong and communication is never impeded.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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