Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-14

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 process diagram demonstrates cyclic process that how a biofuel called as ethanol is made on industrial scale and how it re-enters the atmosphere once made.

Overall, the diagram consists of eight crucial stages involved in the production of ethanol and illustrates how the ethanol produced in industry makes it way back to the environment.

Looking at the details, the process begin with plants and trees which consumes carbon dioxide and sunlight as source of energy for their growth, these trees are harvested and transported to the processing area where it undergoes some pre processing which seprates the cellulose from the trees. Afterwards this cellulose is transported for further industrial processing and processed to make sugars finally some microbes are added to these sugars to make the final product which is ethanol.

This ethanol is then fuled into cars, trucks and aircrafts which emits carbondioxide into the atmosphere, this carbondioxide is again used as a energy source by plants for growth, making it a cyclic process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main stages and identify the key cyclical feature: carbon dioxide released when ethanol is used in transport returns to support plant growth. The sequence from cellulose to processing, sugars, microbes and ethanol is also reported accurately. This gives the response a clear overview and relevant detail. However, some features are less fully or precisely described: the diagram shows sunlight and carbon dioxide as inputs for plant growth, but the opening sentence does not clearly distinguish these; it also shows harvesting followed by pre-processing, rather than saying the trees are transported to the processing area. The claim that there are eight stages is not supported by the diagram’s sequence. More precise coverage of the stages and inputs would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction and overview are followed by the production stages and then the fuel’s use and carbon cycle. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “Looking at the details,” “Afterwards,” and “finally” help the reader follow the process. The final sentence also links transport emissions back to plant growth, reinforcing the cycle. However, several long sentences join multiple stages with commas, making the relationships between steps less clear; for example, the sentence beginning “Looking at the details” contains the growth, harvesting, pre-processing and cellulose stages in one run-on structure. Use full stops or carefully formed clauses to separate stages, and make references such as “these trees” and “this cellulose” more precise. This would make cohesion less dependent on sequencing words.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “cellulose,” “microbes,” “industrial processing,” and “carbon dioxide,” which allows you to describe the main stages. There is also some attempt at more specific wording, such as “cyclic process.” However, noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “seprates,” “fuled,” and “carbondioxide” are inaccurate, while “consumes carbon dioxide” is less suitable for describing plants taking it in. Some phrases are also awkward or repetitive, including “made on industrial scale” and “the final product which is ethanol.” Aim for accurate spelling and natural collocations, and use a wider range of precise process verbs such as “undergoes,” “is converted into,” and “is released.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “the final product which is ethanol” and a concluding clause explaining the cycle. The main meaning is generally understandable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement are noticeable. For example, “The process diagram demonstrates cyclic process that how…” has an incorrect clause pattern, and “the process begin” and “plants and trees which consumes” show subject–verb agreement problems. Articles are also missing in phrases such as “as source of energy” and “as a energy source.” Several clauses are joined with commas rather than being separated or linked grammatically, especially in the long description of the production stages. Practise accurate article use, agreement and sentence boundaries while retaining some complex structures.

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