Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-05

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)

This diagram illustrates how a biofuel called ethanol is produced. This process is a reversible cycle where energy converts into biofuel and then biofuel converts back into energy.

Firstly, plants and trees grow by absorbing energy such as sunlight and carbon dioxide. After that harvesting and pre-processing of biofuel results in the formation of cellulose. The cellulose is then processed into various sugars. Then distinct microbes are added to create ethanol which is used as a biofuel in vehicles.

The means of transportation use this biofuel . As a result, carbon dioxide is released back into the air regenerating the energy from where the whole biofuel production begins.

This biofuel called ethanol is produced for different purposes and this production method is widely used. As this method is cheap, efficient and reversible which makes it quite time-efficient and cost-efficient. Because of these benefits, this method is being used for centuries and will be used in future as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of the ethanol production cycle from plants and trees to biofuel utilization and carbon dioxide release. An overview is successfully provided in the introduction, noting that the process is a cyclic one. However, some aspects of the task are developed less fully than others. For instance, the transition stages between harvesting, pre-processing, and cellulose formation are described somewhat simplistically. Additionally, the final paragraph introduces speculation and unsupported generalisations about the method being used for centuries, which falls outside the scope of factual reporting required for an academic task. To achieve a higher level, the description of intermediate stages should be more thorough and entirely factual without external commentary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression that follows the circular flow of the diagram. Paragraphing is used to separate different phases of the process, moving from growth and harvesting through processing to transport and carbon dioxide regeneration. Cohesive devices are employed to connect the stages, using sequencing words such as 'Firstly', 'After that', and 'Then'. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical and referencing can be slightly rigid. For example, the transition between paragraphs could flow more naturally to avoid a choppy feel. To reach the next standard, the essay needs more sophisticated referencing and smoother logical bridges between sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms such as 'cellulose', 'sugars', 'microbes', and 'carbon dioxide'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary and appropriate phrasing, such as 'reversible cycle', 'absorbing energy', and 'cost-efficient'. However, word choice and collocation show some minor inaccuracies, such as the awkward phrasing 'After that harvesting and pre-processing of biofuel results in', where punctuation is missing and the sequence is slightly muddled. Spelling is accurate throughout the text. To improve further, a wider range of precise lexical items related to scientific processes should be integrated with greater flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, utilizing relative clauses and prepositional phrases reasonably well. Sentences such as 'This process is a reversible cycle where energy converts into biofuel' show a good grasp of multi-clause formation. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, most notably missing commas in sequential phrases (e.g., 'After that harvesting and pre-processing') and a minor syntactic flaw in the final paragraph where the clause structure becomes ungrammatical ('which makes it quite time-efficient'). Nevertheless, these errors rarely impede communication and the majority of simple sentences remain accurate. To attain a higher band, a greater variety of complex structures with consistent error-free control is required.

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