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 picture illustrates the several stages of producing biofuel which is also known as ethanol.

Overall, the initial process of producing ethanol is harvesting of trees and plants, while at the end the biofuel converts into carbon dioxide which evaporate in the atmosphere.

Moving forward with steps, plants and trees play the significant role in the production of ethanol. Harvesting of plants and trees with the help of tractor is the initial process, pre-processing the material to convert into cellulose. Moreover, in the laboratory processing the cellulose for further process.

Continuing with the next steps, after processing it produces sugars in the form of structures. Furthermore, adding microbes with the sugar for the formation of ethanol. Now the ethanol is ready for the transportations and can be use for cars, trucks, and aeroplanes then they will release the carbon dioxide which will evaporate in the atmosphere and it can useful for trees and plants.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a production process and include its main stages, from harvesting and pre-processing through cellulose, sugars, microbes and ethanol. You also mention the three transport modes and the return of carbon dioxide to plants, so the response covers the cycle rather than only the manufacturing steps. However, the overview is not fully accurate: harvesting is not the initial stage, since plants first grow using sunlight and carbon dioxide. The description also says carbon dioxide “evaporate[s] in the atmosphere,” which does not clearly report its role in the cycle. Some stages are under-explained, particularly the conversion from cellulose to sugars. A clearer overview and more precise explanation of the cycle would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “Moving forward” and “Continuing with the next steps” signal progression. However, these transitions are somewhat mechanical, and the final paragraph combines ethanol production, its uses, and the carbon cycle in a long sentence, making the relationships less clear. The overview also places harvesting at the start, which disrupts the sequence established by the diagram. Use simpler stage-to-stage links such as “Next” or “After this,” and separate the production stages from the fuel’s use and carbon return.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “formation,” and the key stages remain understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “illustrates” and “significant role.” Some choices are imprecise or unnatural, however: “the several stages” is awkward, “structures” does not accurately describe sugars, and “evaporate in the atmosphere” is not the right expression for carbon dioxide being released. “Transportations” is also an unsuitable form in this context. Aim for precise process collocations and use the diagram’s terminology directly where possible, for example, “sugars are produced” and “carbon dioxide is released.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including the sequence “after processing it produces sugars” and a final clause linking fuel use to carbon dioxide release. However, some grammatical errors affect clarity. In “the initial process … is harvesting,” the article and sentence structure make the overview awkward; “carbon dioxide which evaporate” has a subject–verb agreement error; and “can be use” needs a past participle. The fragment “Moreover, in the laboratory processing the cellulose for further process” lacks a finite verb, while “adding microbes with the sugar” is not a complete, well-formed clause. Build complete sentences around each stage, check agreement and verb forms, and use punctuation to avoid overloading the final sentence.

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