Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-02

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 a biofuel called ethanol is produced from plants and trees.

Overall, the process consists of eight main stages, beginning with the growth of plants and trees and ending with the release of carbon dioxide, which is then absorbed by plants. In general, it is a circular process.

At the first stage, plants and trees grow by using energy from natural resources sunlight and carbon dioxide. They are harvested and undergo pre-processing, after which cellulose is obtained. Next, the cellulose is sent to a processing plant, where it is converted into sugars.

Once this has been completed, microbes are added to the sugars. Resulting in ethanol.This can be used for running automobiles such as trucks, cars and aeroplanes. During this combustion process in automobiles carbom dioxide is released into atmosphere. Again this carbon dioxide is used for plants and trees growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by summarizing the main stages of the biofuel production cycle from plants to ethanol and its eventual conversion back into carbon dioxide. An overview is successfully presented, noting the circular nature of the process and the total number of stages. However, some aspects are under-developed, particularly the final stage where the carbon dioxide is released and reabsorbed. Additionally, the word count requirement of 150 words was not met, as the response falls slightly short at 144 words. To achieve a higher band, all stages should be elaborated with slightly more detail, and the minimum length requirement must be fulfilled.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the initial growth phase through processing to final combustion and recycling. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices such as 'At the first stage', 'Next', and 'Once this has been completed' are employed, although referencing and linking can occasionally feel slightly mechanical. To move further up the band scale, cohesion could be made more sophisticated and seamless, reducing reliance on basic sequential transition words.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'pre-processing', 'cellulose', 'microbes', and 'combustion process'. However, there are some lexical issues, including a spelling error ('carbom dioxide' instead of 'carbon dioxide') and minor awkwardness in word choice and phrasing, such as 'At the first stage' where 'Initially' or 'At the outset' might be more natural. To reach a higher band, a wider and more precise range of less common lexical items should be employed with greater accuracy in spelling and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, utilizing clauses like 'where it is converted into sugars' and 'which is then absorbed by plants'. There are some grammatical errors, such as a sentence fragment ('Resulting in ethanol.') and punctuation or article issues ('into atmosphere' missing an article). However, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication. To attain a higher band, the writer should increase the variety of error-free complex structures and ensure careful punctuation checking to avoid sentence fragments.

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

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