Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27

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 given diagram illustrates the process involved in production of a biofuel, ethanol.

Overall, the production consists of a few steps. It starts from the plants being harvested which undergoes some processing and treatments, and as a result ethanol is obtained.

The process begins with harvesting of mature plants and trees either manually or by a harvester. The harvested plants are cut into smaller pieces and then sent for pre-processing where their cellulose is extracted with the help of different pieces equipments and machines. Later, the extracted cellulose undergoes further processing in the factory where several steps take place. Ultimately, it converts the cellulose into sugar. Finally, the sugar is treated with microbes which produce ethanol.

The produced ethanol can be used as fuel for different vehicles including cars, trucks and airplanes. The burning of this fuel in vehicles’ engines can release an excessive amount of carbon dioxide. Together with sunlight and carbon dioxide the plants get their energy for growth. These plants can be used again for the production of ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by summarising the cyclical process of biofuel production. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the main stages from harvesting to ethanol creation. Key features such as pre-processing, cellulose extraction, sugar conversion, and microbe treatment are accurately reported based on the visual data. The response also appropriately captures the final stage involving carbon dioxide release and plant growth. The information is well-supported with details from the diagram, and no significant data is misread or omitted, satisfying the requirements for Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text exhibits clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The response is divided into an introduction, an overview, body details of the production process, and a final paragraph detailing the use of ethanol and the carbon cycle. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'The process begins with', 'Later', 'Ultimately', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the sequential steps. Paragraphing is logical and appropriate, although a slightly tighter integration between the production stages and the carbon cycle could enhance cohesion further, placing this comfortably at a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully employing topic-specific terminology such as 'harvesting', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'sugars', 'microbes', and 'carbon dioxide'. There are attempts at less common phrasing ('mature plants and trees', 'excessive amount of carbon dioxide'). However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as 'pieces equipments' (should be 'pieces of equipment'), which prevent the score from reaching higher bands. Overall, the vocabulary is adequate and precise enough to convey the meaning clearly, fitting the Band 6.5 criteria nicely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and participial phrases ('The harvested plants are cut into smaller pieces and then sent for pre-processing where their cellulose is extracted...'). Control of grammar is generally good, though there are minor errors, notably 'plants being harvested which undergoes' (subject-verb agreement error with 'plants' and 'undergoes') and 'pieces equipments' (pluralisation error). Despite these slips, meaning is never obscured, and complex structures are attempted with reasonable success, earning a Band 6.5.

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