Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-22

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 7.5)

The diagram illustrates the process of manufacturing ethanol, a type of biofuel.

Overall, the production of ethanol is a cyclical process that consists of harvesting plants, extracting cellulose, converting it into sugars, adding microbes to create ethanol, and carbon dioxide produced when the ethanol is burned cycling back to plants during photosynthesis.

The process begins with plants and trees using sunlight and carbon dioxide as energy sources for growth. Once harvested, they undergo a preprocessing stage, where a crushing machine breaks them down into small pieces to facilitate further processing. These small pieces are then converted into cellulose, which is chemically processed to obtain sugars. From there, microbes are added to the sugars to convert them into ethanol.

When ethanol is burned as fuel in various vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and airplanes, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. However, this carbon dioxide is reabsorbed by plants during photosynthesis, and the process begins again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the process diagram showing how ethanol is produced. The response accurately highlights all the main features, including the growth of plants, harvesting, pre-processing, conversion to cellulose and sugars, addition of microbes, and the final combustion of ethanol which releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere in a cyclical manner. The overview effectively captures the cyclical nature of the process without unnecessary detail, satisfying the core requirements of Academic Task 1. The data is reported accurately and is fully grounded in the provided visual reference.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The text is logically organized and easy to follow. Ideas are well sequenced, progressing naturally from the initial growth of plants through the various transformation stages to the final combustion and carbon dioxide absorption cycle. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overall process summary, main body stages, and final consumption cycle. Cohesive devices such as 'The process begins with', 'Once harvested', and 'From there' are used effectively to guide the reader through the sequence without mechanical repetition.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary used is appropriate and sufficiently varied for an Academic Task 1 response. The student successfully employs domain-specific terms relevant to the diagram, such as 'cyclical process', 'preprocessing', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'photosynthesis'. Word choices are precise, and collocations are generally natural, as seen in phrases like 'energy sources for growth' and 'released into the atmosphere'. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, demonstrating a solid control of lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a strong command of grammatical structures, successfully combining simple and complex sentences. Examples of complex structures include relative clauses and adverbial clauses of time and condition, such as 'where a crushing machine breaks them down into small pieces to facilitate further processing' and 'When ethanol is burned as fuel in various vehicles... carbon dioxide is released'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled accurately throughout the response, ensuring clear and effortless communication.

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

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