Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-28

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 diagram illustrates how ethanol is produced.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with trees getting energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide and ending with ethanol getting used as biofuel in vehicles.

At the first stage, plants and trees get energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide which helps them to grow faster.Following this, the plants are gathered and picked up by method of harvesting. Once this has been completed, the pre-processing of the trees get done.

In the next stage, the pre-processed plants gets converted to cellulose. After that, cellulose get processed in proper way in laboratory which in result leads to formation and production of sugar. When microbes get added to that sugar it results in the production of Ethanol which further get used in numerous transportation vehicles such as truck, car and airplane. Those vehicles then emit carbon dioxide which helps plants and trees to grow.

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 the biofuel production cycle. The overview correctly identifies the cyclical nature and key milestones, starting from plants and trees absorbing energy to the emission of carbon dioxide. Key stages such as harvesting, pre-processing, conversion to cellulose, processing into sugars, and the addition of microbes to create ethanol are accurately reported. Comparisons and relationships, such as how the carbon dioxide emitted from vehicles helps plants and trees grow, are also captured. The response meets the requirements well, though some minor mechanical details from the diagram could have been integrated slightly more smoothly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the sequential flow of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'At the first stage', 'Following this', 'In the next stage', and 'After that' are used to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and sequential steps. While the progression is generally clear, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, placing the text at the lower end of Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary relevant to the process, such as 'harvesting', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'transportation vehicles'. However, there are instances of unnatural word choices and phrasing, such as 'trees getting energy' instead of 'absorbing energy', 'get done' instead of 'is completed', and 'in proper way in laboratory'. Vocabulary tends to be somewhat basic and repetitive when attempting less common items, which keeps the score at a Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several subject-verb agreement errors, such as 'the pre-processing of the trees get done', 'the pre-processed plants gets converted', and 'cellulose get processed', where singular subjects or collective nouns are paired with plural verbs. Additionally, passive voice constructions are handled clumsily (e.g., 'further get used'). These frequent errors occasionally distract the reader, though they do not entirely impede communication.

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

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