Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-01

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 7.5)

The diagram illustrates the process of producing ethanol, a type of biofuel, from plants and trees.

Overall, the process consists of several stages, beginning with the growth of plants and trees and ending with the production and use of ethanol. It is a cyclical process because the carbon dioxide released during the use of ethanol is absorbed by plants during their growth.

Initially, plants and trees grow by using sunlight and carbon dioxide as sources of energy. Once they have matured, they are harvested. The harvested plants are then sent for pre-processing, where they are converted into cellulose. After that, the cellulose undergoes further processing and is transformed into sugars.

In the next stage, microbes are added to the sugars, which results in the production of ethanol. The ethanol is subsequently used as a fuel for different forms of transport, including cars, trucks and aircraft. These vehicles release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide is then absorbed by growing plants, completing the cycle and allowing the process to begin again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear and fully developed overview of the entire ethanol production process. The writer successfully highlights the key stages, from the growth of plants and trees through to harvesting, processing into cellulose and sugars, and finally the addition of microbes to create ethanol. Furthermore, the important cyclical nature of the process—specifically how carbon dioxide released by vehicles is re-absorbed by plants—is accurately identified and clearly reported. The selection of main features is appropriate and grounded accurately in the provided diagram without omitting critical steps. To reach the highest bands, the response could incorporate slightly more fine-grained technical detail from the visual data, but overall it fulfills the requirements of this band with a clear and well-supported overview.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The text demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information and ideas are arranged in a coherent sequence that mirrors the stages of the diagram, starting with an introductory overview, moving through the physical and chemical phases of production, and concluding with the fuel's usage and environmental cycle. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once they have matured', 'After that', and 'In the next stage' are used naturally and effectively to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph dedicated to a distinct phase of the cycle. Progression is smooth, ensuring that the relationship between the steps remains transparent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, successfully employing less common lexical items appropriate to a scientific process, such as 'cyclical', 'matured', 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', and 'atmosphere'. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, and terms from the prompt such as 'harvested', 'microbes', and 'carbon dioxide' are integrated smoothly into the student's own sentence structures. There are occasional minor limitations in range, but spelling and word formation are entirely correct. To move to a higher band, the writer could incorporate a wider variety of more sophisticated, less common idiomatic or academic vocabulary items to describe technical transformations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, including time clauses ('Once they have matured'), relative clauses ('where they are converted into cellulose'), and participial phrases. There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. Verb forms and tenses, particularly the present simple passive ('are harvested', 'are converted', 'are added') which is essential for describing a continuous process, are handled accurately throughout. Agreement, articles, and prepositions are also well-managed. The minor persistence of occasional awkward phrasing keeps the score at this level, but overall the grammatical control is strong and communication is never impeded.

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

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