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 illustration gives information about the production of ethanol by biofuel. Overall, carbon dioxide is necessary for the growth of plants, and ethanol is formed by plants. Ethanol is used in vehicles as fuel, and these vehicles use ethanol and emit carbon dioxide. This is a chain reaction.
It is quite evident from the diagram that plants absorb sunlight from the sun and carbon dioxide from the air, which can help plants to grow. These plants are harvested by the wood cutters. By pre-processing, these harvested plants converted into cellulose. After many chemical reactions in labortrary, the cellulose converted into sugar.
Furthermore, many microbes are added in the sugar. The sugar made by processing of cellulose reacted with microbes and ethanol is formed. This ethanol made by reactions of sugar is used as a source of fuel. The ethanol is used as fuel in many kind of vehicles like cars, trucks and airplanes. By combussion process, these vehicles use fuel and emit carbon dioxide in enviornment, which is again absorb by plants.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student attempts to describe the circular process of ethanol production from plants, covering the main stages from plant growth and harvesting to processing, microbe addition, and subsequent use in vehicles with carbon dioxide emission. However, the overview lacks precision and some details are slightly inaccurate according to the visual data, such as stating plants are harvested by 'wood cutters' rather than general agricultural methods. Furthermore, the explanation of chemical processes is slightly vague or simplified. The response satisfies the basic requirements of Academic Task 1 by reporting the main features, but the development of information remains at a Band 5.5 to 6.0 level due to minor inaccuracies and incomplete elaboration of all cyclical connections.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The text is arranged into three distinct paragraphs, providing a basic introduction, body details, and a conclusion/continuation of the cycle. Logical progression is generally maintained using chronological connectors such as 'After many chemical reactions' and 'Furthermore'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes mechanical or awkward, for instance repeating 'The ethanol is used as fuel' and 'This ethanol made by reactions of sugar'. Paragraphing is utilized, though the middle paragraph groups too many distinct steps of the diagram together without optimal logical partitioning. Cohesive devices are present but lack smooth flexibility.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common lexical items such as 'pre-processing', 'microbes', and 'combussion process'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('labortrary', 'combussion', 'enviornment') and awkward word choices or collocations, such as 'production of ethanol by biofuel' instead of 'production of the biofuel ethanol' and 'wood cutters' for harvesting crops. These lexical inaccuracies and spelling slips occasionally detract from the quality of the response, restricting the score to a Band 5.5 or 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'It is quite evident from the diagram that plants absorb sunlight...' and 'The sugar made by processing of cellulose reacted with microbes and ethanol is formed.' There are several grammatical errors and awkward passive/active transitions, including 'these harvested plants converted into cellulose' (missing auxiliary verb) and 'which is again absorb by plants' (incorrect verb form). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the grammar score from rising above Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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