Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30

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 process illustrates how a biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Overall, the process consists of ten main stages and it is a cyclic process, beginning with absorption of energy and ending with release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

In the first, plants and trees were grown by absorption of energy through a mixture of sunlight and carbon dioxide. Next we see cultivated plants and trees undergo harvesting by the use of motor vehicles. Following this, harvested trees and plants go to pre-processing at this stage plants conveted into tiny particles using cutting machines. After that, mixture of tiny partices forms cellulose. Which results in formation of cellulose through plants and trees.

In the next, cellulose underwent processing with different mixtures and forms sugars. Following this, microbes were added to formed sugars through processing. Finally addition of microbes results to formation of ethanol. Then obtained ethanol were used by different motor vehicles as a fuel in daily life. Through vehicles the release of carbon dioxide will be absrob. Released co2 into atmosphere again convert as a energy and again its absrob by plants and trees. following this, the cycle repeat again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses the main features of the diagram, providing a clear summary of how ethanol is produced through a cyclic process. The overview correctly identifies that the process is a ten-stage cycle beginning with energy absorption and ending with carbon dioxide release. Key stages such as harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose formation, processing into sugars, microbial addition, and vehicle usage are all mentioned. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in interpretation and expression, such as stating that 'plants and trees were grown by absorption of energy' in the past tense, rather than describing a general, ongoing diagrammatic process. Overall, the response covers all parts of the prompt well, earning a solid Band 6.5 to 7.0 for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression from the beginning to the end of the biofuel cycle. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the first', 'Next we see', 'Following this', and 'Finally' are employed to guide the reader through the sequence. However, referencing is sometimes awkward or unclear, as seen in phrases like 'to formed sugars through processing' and 'Which results in formation of cellulose through plants and trees', which creates choppy transitions and minor mechanical cohesion issues. Progression is generally clear throughout, placing this response firmly in the Band 6.0 range.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms such as 'absorption', 'harvesting', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'atmosphere'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, but these are often marred by word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'conveted' (converted), 'partices' (particles), and 'absrob' (absorbed). Furthermore, repetitive phrasing such as 'formation of cellulose' and 'formed sugars' limits the precision of the writing. While communication is not impeded, these lexical inaccuracies and spelling slips restrict the score to Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses and passive voice constructions (e.g., 'microbes were added to formed sugars'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout the text. Examples include tense inconsistencies ('plants and trees were grown'), missing articles ('addition of microbes results to formation'), and fragment sentences ('Which results in formation of cellulose through plants and trees'). Punctuation and preposition use also need refinement. While the errors do not impede overall understanding, they occur with enough frequency 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.

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