Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-29

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 the information about how ethanol is produced from plants and trees.

Overall, a biofuel production is a cyclic process, beginning with growth of the plants and trees and entered into various mechanical process and ending with produced ethanol. Vehicles are used this ethanol as a fuel and emitted carbon dioxide which trees and plant consumed with sunlight for growth.

Initially, plants and trees grow using sunlight and carbon dioxide as sources of energy. Once they have matured, they are harvested and transported to a pre-processing unit. At this stage, plant materials are converted into cellulose. The cellulose sent to the laboratories, where chemicals and extractions process occurred and produced sugar molecules.

In the next step, microbes are added into suger molecules, whith helps of fermitation process, ethanol produced. This ethanol is used as a biofuel in vehicles namely trucks, cars and airoplanes. When these vehicles consume ethanol, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Finally, this carbon dioxide is absorbed by growing plants, with sunlight. Consequently, the process forms a continuous cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully identifies the main features and stages of the process diagram, outlining how ethanol is produced from plants and trees in a cyclic manner. The response gives a clear overview in the second paragraph, noting that it is a cyclic process and mentioning the final consumption by vehicles and absorption by plants. All key stages are reported accurately from the provided visual data, including harvesting, pre-processing, conversion to cellulose, chemical processing into sugars, the addition of microbes, and the final use of ethanol. There are no major omissions, and the information is well-summarised without unnecessary mechanical listing, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is logically organised into clear paragraphs, moving from an introductory overview to initial stages, subsequent processing steps, and finally the concluding cycle. Cohesive devices are used to sequence the stages appropriately, such as 'Initially', 'Once they have matured', 'In the next step', and 'Finally'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to group related ideas together. However, some minor awkwardness in cohesion and referencing prevents a higher score, such as the abrupt transition in 'The cellulose sent to the laboratories' lacking a verb. Overall, the progression is clear throughout, earning a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task 1 response, including terms like 'cyclic process', 'matured', 'harvested', 'transported', 'fermentation process', and 'atmosphere'. There are some noticeable lexical and word-choice errors, such as 'entered into various mechanical process' instead of 'processes', 'produced ethanol' instead of 'producing ethanol', and 'suger' instead of 'sugar'. Additionally, phrases like 'with helps of fermitation process' show mechanical usage and minor spelling slips. Despite these errors, communication is never impeded, demonstrating the characteristics of Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using relative clauses and temporal conjunctions effectively (e.g., 'When these vehicles consume ethanol, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere'). However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'a biofuel production is a cyclic process', 'Vehicles are used this ethanol as a fuel and emitted carbon dioxide which trees and plant consumed', and 'The cellulose sent to the laboratories'. While these errors do not impede overall comprehension, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching Band 6.5, placing it firmly at Band 6.0.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.