Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-09

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 6.5)

The following process diagram illustrates the process of ethanol production.

Overall, the diagram resembles a cyclical procedure of how ethanol is created. It starts from the natural energy received by the trees and plants which are later harvested. After a vastly lengthy processing and many additional minerals are combined, ethanol is produced and substituted into vehicles. These vehicles then release that carbon dioxide which is consumed by the trees, in a loop to eventually repeat the entire ethanol producing process.

Initially, it begins from the sunlight absorbed by the growing trees and plants. These trees are then harvested by farmers and consigned for a pre-processing stage where the harvested crops are refined under machines. The machines produce an element called cellulose which is essentially combined with sugar compounds and microbes which consequently produces ethanol. As a result, this is then used by vehicles and aircrafts which then releases a substantial amount of carbon dioxide. Consequently, this carbon dioxide is then re-absorbed by the trees and plants, constantly in a loop, producing ethanol.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main cycle clearly: plant growth, harvesting and processing lead to ethanol, which is used in transport, while released carbon dioxide returns to the plants. This gives the response a relevant overview and covers the principal stages. However, some details are inaccurate or insufficiently precise. The diagram shows cellulose being processed into sugars, followed by the addition of microbes; your account instead says cellulose is “combined with sugar compounds and microbes,” which blurs the order. “Many additional minerals” is not shown, and “a substantial amount” of carbon dioxide is not quantified in the diagram. To strengthen the report, describe each stage in sequence and avoid adding unsupported details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement, with an introductory sentence, a cycle-focused overview and a paragraph describing the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “As a result” and “Consequently” help the reader follow the process. The progression is generally logical, but some links are imprecise: “which consequently produces ethanol” compresses the sugar and microbe stages, while “this is then used” has an unclear reference. The overview also repeats information that appears again in the final paragraph, particularly the return of carbon dioxide to plants. For stronger cohesion, use explicit stage-to-stage links and ensure pronouns refer unmistakably to a material or product.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “ethanol” and “re-absorbed,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “cyclical procedure.” However, some choices are unnatural or imprecise for describing a diagram: “consigned for a pre-processing stage,” “combined with sugar compounds,” and “substituted into vehicles” do not express the process naturally. “Aircrafts” is also less appropriate than the standard plural “aircraft.” Aim for precise process collocations and use the diagram’s labels where possible; this will make the account more accurate as well as more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of sentence forms, including complex clauses such as “These vehicles then release that carbon dioxide which is consumed by the trees” and a passive construction in “These trees are then harvested.” Many sentences are controlled and easy to understand. A few errors remain, especially with subject–verb agreement: “vehicles and aircrafts which then releases” should use a plural verb, “release.” The phrase “the sunlight absorbed by the growing trees and plants” is also less clearly structured than a clause stating that the plants absorb sunlight. Review agreement when a plural subject is followed by a relative clause, and keep sentence structures direct when explaining the sequence.

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