Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-13

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 figure illustrates the process by which ethanol is produced and used as a biofuel.

Overall,production of ethanol is a cyclic multi-step process, which involves harvesting, pre processing, chemical process and fermentation.The process starts with natural growth of the trees utilizing energy like sunlight and carbondioxide emitted from the vehicles and the loop ends with vehicle using the biofuel and again emmiting carbondioxide into the atmosphere.

Firstly, production of ethanol starts with the absorption of sunlight and carbondioxide by the plants for their natural growth.The trees are then harvested and pre-processed to produce cellulose fibrils. The resultant cellulose fibres are chemically processed to denature them to produce simpler sugars and subsequent addition of microbes to produce ethanol.

The produced ethanol is used as a biofuel in different vehicles such as cars,trucks and aeroplanes which releases carbondioxide into the atmosphere. Plants and trees absorb these released carbondioxide and sunlight for its natural growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response identifies the diagram as a cyclical process and covers the main stages from plant growth and harvesting through cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol, then its use in transport and the return of carbon dioxide. This gives a relevant overview and a generally accurate account. Some details, however, are less fully or precisely reported: the diagram shows processing but does not specify that it is chemical treatment to “denature” cellulose, and “cellulose fibrils” is not a labelled output. The account could also distinguish more clearly that ethanol is used by cars, trucks and aeroplanes, whose emissions feed back into plant growth. The overview and stage selection are effective, but greater fidelity to the diagram would make coverage more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a clear sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by the production stages and then the fuel’s use and carbon cycle. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “then” and “subsequent” help the reader follow the process, and the final sentence returns logically to plant growth. The progression is coherent, though some links are mechanical and the overview repeats information later given in the body. The long second paragraph also combines several stages that could be separated or linked more explicitly. Improve cohesion by using concise references such as “this material” or “the resulting sugars” and by ensuring transitions clarify the relationship between each stage rather than simply marking order.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “cellulose,” “fermentation” and “biofuel,” and attempts more technical wording. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “chemical process” is vague, “denature them” does not clearly describe the diagram’s processing stage, and “cellulose fibrils” adds an unsupported detail. Spelling and word-form errors such as “carbondioxide” and “emmiting” are noticeable, while “natural growth” and “released carbon dioxide” are repeated. These issues do not prevent the overall meaning from being understood, but they limit precision and control. Prefer standard forms and collocations, and use the diagram’s labels where a more specific technical term is not justified.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a relative clause in “a cyclic multi-step process, which involves…” and a sequence of passive forms such as “are then harvested” and “are chemically processed.” The main stages remain understandable. However, errors in sentence boundaries, punctuation and agreement reduce accuracy: there is no space after “Overall,” or before “The trees,” and “Plants and trees absorb … for its natural growth” has a plural subject with a singular pronoun. The sentence beginning “The resultant cellulose fibres…” also has an unclear pronoun reference in “denature them.” Review punctuation around sentence openings and check that pronouns agree with their antecedents. More consistently accurate complex sentences would strengthen the response.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.