Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The process diagram illustrates how ethanol which is a biofuel is made.

Overall, the cycle consists of 8 steps. The cycle begins with the growth of plants and trees which are then harvested. These harvested plants and trees undergo pre-processing and processing to form ethanol which is used as a fuel by the vehicles. These vehicles in turn release carbondioxide in the air and the cycle starts again.

Plants and trees use sunlight and carbon dioxide from the environment as energy to grow. These plants and trees are then harvested using machines. Once harvested, they are passed through machines for pre-processing. The result of pre-processing is the production of cellulose.

This cellulose is then processed using chemicals to form sugars. Subsequently, microbes are added to the sugars to produce ethanol. Ethanol is then used as a fuel by the vehicles such as cars, airplanes, and trucks. When these vehicles are used for transportation they release carbon dioxide in the environment restarting the cycle.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response covers the main stages and gives a clear overview of the cycle, including plant growth, conversion through cellulose and sugars, ethanol use in transport, and carbon dioxide returning to support growth. This is a strong account of the diagram’s overall process. However, the statement that the cycle has “8 steps” is not clearly supported by the diagram’s sequence, and “processing using chemicals” adds a method that is not shown. The overview could also identify the key transformation more precisely: plant material becomes cellulose, then sugars, before microbes are added to produce ethanol. These small inaccuracies and omissions keep the description from being fully precise, despite its otherwise effective coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear progression: an overview is followed by the early production stages and then the conversion and fuel-use stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Once harvested,” “Subsequently,” and “When these vehicles are used” help guide the reader through the cycle. Paragraphing is appropriate, and the final reference to carbon dioxide restarting the cycle links back to the overview. Cohesion is generally effective, although repeated references to “plants and trees” and “these vehicles” make some passages less concise. The opening claim about eight steps also does not sit neatly with the later description, which presents a longer sequence of stages. More precise referencing and a consistent account of the stages would strengthen the progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “release,” and the meaning remains clear throughout. Some choices are less precise or natural for an academic process description: “passed through machines” is vague, while “used as a fuel by the vehicles” is awkwardly phrased. “Carbondioxide” is incorrectly written as one word, and “chemicals” introduces an unsupported detail rather than naming a feature shown in the diagram. The vocabulary is adequate and includes relevant technical terms, but greater precision, more natural collocations, and accurate spelling would provide the flexibility expected at a stronger level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

There is a useful mix of sentence forms, including complex clauses such as “These harvested plants and trees undergo pre-processing and processing to form ethanol which is used as a fuel by the vehicles.” Most sentences are clear, and the writer handles passive constructions and sequencing reasonably well. A few grammatical and punctuation issues remain. In the opening, “ethanol which is a biofuel” needs commas around the non-defining clause. The phrase “the growth of plants and trees which are then harvested” would be clearer with a comma before “which,” since it refers to the plants and trees. The sentence beginning “This cellulose is then processed” also has a long chain of actions that could be divided or punctuated more carefully. Overall control is good, but these details limit accuracy.

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