Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates the sequential stages of producing ethanol from biomass and its subsequent use as a fuel source within a carbon cycle.

Overall, the process is a cyclical loop which involves three main phases such as production and harvesting of plants and trees and further the processing of all material to convert it into ethanol and the eventual consumption of fuel, which releases carbon dioxide that is reabsorbed by new plants.

Initially, plants and trees absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow. Once matured, these plants and trees are harvested with the helo of machinery. The harvested procduct undergoes pre-processing before sent to the processing facility, both steps also emitted carbon dioxide.

During the processing phase, the pre-processing product is converted into cellulose which furthrt break down into sugars. These sugars are chemically processed to produce ethanol. Finally, the ethanol is utilized as fuel for various modes of transportation. The vechiles releases cardon dioxide which is then absorbed by the plants, completing the cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of biofuel (ethanol) production and its role within the carbon cycle. An appropriate and clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the cyclical nature of the process and its key phases. The key features of the diagram are reported accurately, moving logically from sunlight absorption and plant growth through to harvesting, pre-processing, conversion to cellulose and sugars, and finally the addition of microbes to produce ethanol. Minor omissions regarding the exact points of carbon dioxide release depicted in the diagram do not detract from the overall clarity and accurate summary of the visual data. The response meets the core requirements of Task 1 well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organised and easy to follow. Progression throughout the text is clear, guiding the reader step-by-step from raw materials to final fuel consumption and carbon absorption. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and distinct body paragraphs detailing the sequential steps. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once matured', 'During the processing phase', and 'Finally' are employed effectively to sequence events, although some mechanical phrasing and minor referencing slips appear, placing it comfortably in the Band 7 category.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common and process-specific items such as 'sequential stages', 'biomass', 'cyclical loop', 'cellulose', and 'chemically processed'. However, there are several noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'helo' instead of 'help', 'procduct' instead of 'product', 'sent' instead of 'being sent', 'furthrt' instead of 'further', 'vechiles' instead of 'vehicles', and 'releases' instead of 'release'. These lexical errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the response from achieving a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses and passive constructions (e.g., 'the harvested product undergoes pre-processing before sent to the processing facility', 'these sugars are chemically processed'). While there are frequent error-free sentences, several grammatical and mechanical errors are present, particularly with missing prepositions or incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'before sent', 'The vechiles releases cardon dioxide'). Despite these lapses, the sentence forms remain mostly clear and communication is not seriously impeded.

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