Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-12

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 diagram illustrates the process of production of ethanol from biofuel. Overall, it is a cyclic procedure consisting of several steps beginning with the cultivaton and harvesting of plants and ending with the production of ethanol, which is ready to be used as a fuel. The process includes both mechanical and chemical methods.

Initially, the plants grow by utilizing sun light and atmospheric carbon dioxide, they are then harvested by using machinery. Next, the plants obtained through harvesting are subjected to pre-processing where the cellulose containing parts are separated for further procedure.

The cellulose is subsequently processed chemically to convert it into sugar molecules. After that, microbes are added to the sugars in order to transform them into ethanol. Finally, ethanol is prepared and it can be used as a fuel in various types of vehicles such as cars and trucks and it can also be used as jet fuel. After burning of fuel in vehicles and planes, carbon dioxide is emitted again into the atmosphere.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You give a clear account of the main production stages, from plant growth and harvesting through cellulose processing and the addition of microbes, and your overview correctly identifies the process as cyclical. The description of carbon dioxide returning after fuel use also captures the diagram’s central cycle. However, some details are less fully reported: the diagram shows ethanol being used by a car, truck and aeroplane, while “jet fuel” is an interpretation rather than a label shown. The overview could also make the cycle’s key relationship more explicit: carbon dioxide from transport returns to support plant growth. To strengthen the response further, describe the stages precisely and avoid adding details not directly represented in the visual.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised in a clear sequence, with an overview followed by the stages in their correct general order. Linking expressions such as “Initially,” “Next,” “subsequently,” “After that” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process, and the final sentence connects fuel use back to carbon dioxide emissions. Paragraphing is also appropriate. Some transitions are slightly mechanical because most stages are introduced with a sequencing marker; a more flexible approach could combine related steps or use references such as “this material” and “the resulting sugars.” The opening sentence of the second paragraph also joins two complete clauses with only a comma. Overall, progression is clear, but more varied cohesion and cleaner sentence boundaries would make the organisation smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “convert” and “emitted,” so the stages are generally easy to understand. There are also some attempts at more technical phrasing, such as “atmospheric carbon dioxide” and “sugar molecules.” However, several choices are imprecise or awkward: “production of ethanol from biofuel” reverses the relationship, since ethanol is the biofuel; “cultivaton” is misspelled; and “sun light” should be written as one word. “Prepared” is also vague for the final production stage. More precise collocations and accurate spelling would improve control, especially when describing the inputs, outputs and uses shown in the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including the relative clause in “the cellulose containing parts are separated” and the purpose clause “in order to transform them into ethanol.” Most of the process remains understandable, and passive forms such as “are subjected” and “are added” suit a process description. Some errors remain. In “the plants grow by utilizing sun light and atmospheric carbon dioxide, they are then harvested,” a comma joins two independent clauses; use a full stop or a conjunction. “After burning of fuel” would be more grammatically natural as “After the fuel is burned.” The phrase “cellulose containing parts” also needs a hyphen in the compound modifier. Greater accuracy in clause boundaries and phrasing would help the varied structures read more smoothly.

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