Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 shows a step-by-step illustration of the production of biofuel called ethanol. Depicting a cycle that demonstrates where the biofuel is originally extracted from and the processed to be ethanol.

In the order for trees/plants to grow, sunlight and carbon dioxide is acquired to obatin energy. Once it has fully grown, they are extracted and harvested to undergo the pre-processing stage. In this stage, the cellulose molecules from pure trees/plants are taken to proceed with the following chemical procedure. Within this segment, sugar chemicals are collected and mixed with microbes. These two segments of the cycle slightly differ as the pre-processing part conducts decomposition of the trees directly while in the chemical stage only certain solutions are gathered for the following procedure.

Once the microbes have reacted with the sugar molecules, ethanol is finally produced. Consequently, the ethanol biofuel is used by various trasportaions such as a airplans, cars, and trucks. In return, these vehicals realeas carbon dioxide to the atmosphere wich will continuously be obtained by the trees and plants for their growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages, from plant growth and harvesting through processing, sugar and microbes to ethanol, transport use, and the return of carbon dioxide to plants. This gives the reader a generally accurate account of the cycle. However, some details are unclear or not fully supported: “cellulose molecules from pure trees/plants” suggests a purity distinction absent from the diagram, and the explanation of how the pre-processing and chemical stages differ is difficult to follow. The overview could also state more directly that ethanol production forms a cycle in which carbon dioxide released by transport is reused during plant growth. More precise reporting of the labelled stages would make the account more complete and clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged in a broadly logical sequence: an introduction, plant growth and processing, then ethanol use and the carbon cycle. Connectors such as “Once,” “Within this segment,” and “In return” help show relationships between stages. However, the second paragraph’s explanation of the difference between pre-processing and the chemical stage interrupts the process sequence and is not clearly linked to the diagram. The opening also contains a sentence fragment beginning “Depicting a cycle,” which weakens the transition from the introduction. Grouping the stages more cleanly and using clear references to each stage would improve progression; for example, explain pre-processing and cellulose before moving to processing and sugars.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “ethanol,” and attempt more specific terms such as “decomposition” and “chemical procedure.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, including “biofuel is originally extracted from,” “pure trees/plants,” and “solutions are gathered.” Spelling errors such as “obatin,” “trasportaions,” “vehicals,” and “realeas” also reduce precision. Some wording is unnecessarily elaborate where a direct process term would be clearer. Aim for accurate collocations such as “plants absorb carbon dioxide,” “the material is pre-processed,” and “sugars are fermented by microbes.” This would make the vocabulary more precise while retaining an appropriate range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex structures, including time clauses (“Once it has fully grown”) and a relative clause (“which will continuously be obtained”). Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. The opening sentence fragment, “Depicting a cycle…,” needs to be joined to the preceding sentence or rewritten as a complete sentence. There are also agreement and article errors in “sunlight and carbon dioxide is acquired” and “such as a airplans,” as well as unclear pronoun reference in “Once it has fully grown, they are extracted.” Use plural agreement (“are acquired”) and name the plants explicitly rather than relying on “they.” More consistent sentence control would strengthen the account.

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