Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-20

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 diagrms illustrates the generation of ethanol, a biofuel and its consumption by diferent categories of transportation marking the continuation of a cycle.

Overall, the process involves 10 different steps starting with absorption of carbondioxide and sunlight through plants for their growth and ending with transport emission into the environment marking the continuation of a cycle.

The production begins when plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide as sources of energy for their growth. After being harvested this raw materials enters the pre- processing stage, where it is broken down into small pieces using a crushing machine. To enable further processing these small pieces are then converted into cellulose, which is chemically processed into sugars. During the final production stage, microbesare added to to the sugars to convert them into ethanol.

When ethanol is burned as fuel in cars, trucks and aeroplanes carbon dioxide is released into environment restarting the entire cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all the key stages of the biofuel production cycle shown in the diagram, from the initial absorption of carbon dioxide and sunlight by plants to the final combustion and transport emissions. The overview provided in the second paragraph appropriately outlines the main process as a continuous cycle. The steps are reported logically, mentioning harvesting, pre-processing into cellulose, chemical processing into sugars, adding microbes to produce ethanol, and the release of carbon dioxide through transport. While the detail is slightly general in places, the response fully addresses the prompt requirements and provides an accurate summary without introducing irrelevant outside information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear overall progression, guiding the reader logically through the 10-step cyclical process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices such as 'After being harvested', 'where it is broken down', and 'During the final production stage' are employed effectively to sequence the stages. However, referencing and transitions could be slightly smoother, and there are occasional mechanical cohesive links. Overall, the organization is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for this task type, utilizing topic-specific terms such as 'absorption', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'transport emission'. There are, however, several spelling and typographical errors throughout the text, including 'diagrms', 'diferent', 'carbondioxide', 'pre- processing', and 'microbesare added to to'. Despite these lexical and spelling slips, the meaning remains clear and communication is not significantly impeded. A slightly wider variety of less common vocabulary and more precise word choices would be needed for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The production begins when plants use sunlight and carbon dioxide as sources of energy for their growth.' There are several grammatical and punctuation errors, notably missing articles ('enters the pre- processing stage', 'released into environment'), incorrect spacing ('pre- processing', 'microbesare', 'added to to'), and a missing comma after introductory participial phrases ('After being harvested this raw materials enters...'). Subject-verb agreement is also slightly flawed in 'this raw materials enters'. Nevertheless, complex structures are attempted and meaning is largely clear.

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

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