Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-23

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 given diagram illustrates the manufacturing and recycling procedure of major biofuel called ethanol which is a highly consumable component in transportation.

Initially, the plants with the aid of solar energy and a gas named carbon dioxide undergoes fixation process which helps in their growth and development. Furthermore, these mature plants are harvested via tractors and their pre-processing stage starts. Afterwards, they are converted into cellulose and then further chemical processing degrades them into sugar molecules.

In the last stage, various kinds of compatible microbes are introduced which consequently results into our interested product. Onwards, ethanol is available for consumption in various means of transportation for instance, heavy and low transport vehicles and planes. The engines of these commuting types after using the ethanol excretes carbon dioxide as a by-product which after all again becomes the part of our air. This represents the recycling procedure in which this gas used firstly for the development of plants and in the end is readily available for new trees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully covers all main stages of the biofuel production cycle shown in the diagram. You provide an adequate overview of how ethanol is manufactured from plants and later recycled back into carbon dioxide and sunlight. Key steps such as harvesting, pre-processing, conversion into cellulose and sugars, addition of microbes, and final consumption are all mentioned in a logical sequence. However, to reach a higher band score, you could have integrated a more explicit and formal introductory overview sentence outlining the cyclical nature of the process right from the start, rather than diving straight into the linear details. Nonetheless, all parts of the prompt are addressed competently and accurately based on the provided visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text is arranged with a clear logical progression, guiding the reader smoothly from the initial growth of plants to their harvesting, processing, and eventual consumption as fuel. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction from the main manufacturing steps and the final recycling stage. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, with transition words like 'Initially', 'Furthermore', 'Afterwards', and 'In the last stage' helping to structure the sequence of events. However, some referencing is slightly clunky or mechanical, such as 'Onwards, ethanol is available...', which slightly disrupts the flow. Overall, the organization is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a technical process, incorporating terms such as 'fixation process', 'cellulose', 'sugar molecules', and 'microbes'. There are some successful attempts to use less common vocabulary, but word choice and collocation are occasionally awkward or imprecise. For example, writing 'major biofuel called ethanol which is a highly consumable component' or 'heavy and low transport vehicles' sounds slightly unnatural. Additionally, there is a minor lexical error in the final paragraph where you use 'excretes' for engines releasing carbon dioxide. Spelling is generally accurate, but phrasing needs refinement for native-like fluency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. You successfully employ relative clauses and adverbial phrases to connect ideas. However, there are a few noticeable grammatical inaccuracies and subject-verb agreement errors. For instance, you write '...plants... undergoes fixation process' (where 'plants' is plural but the verb is singular) and '...results into our interested product' (which should be 'results in'). Furthermore, 'excretes carbon dioxide as a by-product which after all again becomes' contains awkward phrasing and punctuation issues. Despite these errors, communication is not impeded, and the majority of sentences remain clear.

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