Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The Diagram illustrates the process producing ethanol biofuel from plants and trees and shows how carbon dioxide is recycled during its production and use.

Overall,ethanol production is a cyclical process that begins with the growth of plants and trees and ends with the release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You identify the subject accurately, noting that ethanol is produced from plants and trees and that carbon dioxide is recycled. The overview also recognises a cycle, which is a relevant main feature. However, the response gives almost none of the process details: it does not describe harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing into sugars, the addition of microbes, or ethanol’s use in transport. The final release of carbon dioxide is mentioned only generally, without explaining how emissions from vehicles return to support plant growth. The required minimum length is not met, leaving the task substantially incomplete. To improve, report the stages in sequence and explain the link between transport emissions and the plants at the start of the cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic, understandable order: it introduces the diagram and then gives an overall statement about the cycle. This provides a simple progression, but there is too little development to organise the process into a clear account of its stages. The second sentence ends without a full stop, and the missing space after “Overall,” makes the transition less polished. There are also no linking expressions to show how one stage leads to another. Add a paragraph describing the sequence, using connectors such as “next,” “after this,” and “finally,” and make sure each sentence is clearly punctuated. This would create a more complete and coherent progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary is relevant to the topic: “ethanol biofuel,” “plants and trees,” “carbon dioxide,” and “cyclical process” communicate the central subject clearly. However, the range is very limited because the response is so brief, and it does not use the process vocabulary needed to describe the diagram, such as harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, sugars, or microbes. The phrase “the process producing ethanol biofuel” is also less natural than a standard process description. Build a wider set of accurate terms for the stages and use precise verbs to explain transformations and emissions. For example, describe plants as being harvested, cellulose as being processed into sugars, and microbes as being added.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You use two complete sentence structures, including a relative clause in “shows how carbon dioxide is recycled,” and the main meaning is clear. However, the range is narrow, with no developed sentences describing the sequence or relationships between stages. There are also noticeable accuracy and punctuation issues: “Overall,ethanol” needs a space after the comma, the second sentence needs a final full stop, and “into atmosphere” requires an article (“into the atmosphere”). The opening phrase “the process producing” is grammatically awkward; “the process of producing” would be more accurate. Practise combining stages with time clauses and passive forms, while checking articles, spacing, and sentence endings.

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