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 provided process chart illustrates the cycling process of the production of biofuel which is also called ethanol.

Overall, it is clear that there are several stages in the manufacturing of ethanol, starting with growth of plants and tress and ending with the emission of carbondioxide back to the atmosphere.

To begin with, plants and tress are grow by utilizing the energy from sunligh and carbondioxide, followed by the vegetation collection through the harvesting process using agricultural machinery like tractor. However, the harvested material undergoes a pre-processing stage to break it down into cellulose. After that the cellulose is put through the processing stage to make the different mollecules such as sugar.

Folowing that, sugar mollecules are break down into smaller parts by microbes. This leads the formation of the ethanol. Furthermore, the produced biofuel is used in the power vehicles (cars , truck, aeroplane) which emits ethanol in the form of of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, restarting the natural cycle again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages and gives a clear overall account: plant growth is followed through harvesting, pre-processing, cellulose, processing, sugars, microbes and ethanol, before carbon dioxide returns to the cycle. This is relevant and mostly consistent with the diagram. The overview identifies the start and end of the cycle, and the body adds useful process detail. However, some features are less fully reported: the diagram shows ethanol being used by three transport types, but the response does not clearly explain that ethanol is the fuel used by them. It also says the vehicles emit ethanol “in the form of” carbon dioxide, which misrepresents the relationship; carbon dioxide is released after fuel use. More precise reporting of this final stage would strengthen the account further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear sequence, with an overview followed by two paragraphs that move from plant growth to fuel use and the return of carbon dioxide. Linking expressions such as “To begin with,” “After that,” and “Following that” help the reader follow the stages, and the progression is easy to understand. The final sentence also connects the process back to its starting point. Some transitions are slightly mechanical, and “However” does not express a contrast between harvesting and pre-processing. The paragraphing is appropriate, but cohesion could be more flexible by using fewer formulaic stage markers and clearer references to the material at each stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “emission,” which helps convey the diagram’s stages. It also attempts more specific wording such as “vegetation collection” and “molecules.” However, several inaccurate or awkward choices reduce precision: “cycling process of the production” is cumbersome, “power vehicles” is not the natural term here, and “emits ethanol in the form of carbon dioxide” confuses the fuel with the emission. Spelling errors such as “tress,” “sunligh,” “carbondioxide,” and “Folowing” are noticeable. Aim for accurate collocations and careful spelling, especially for key technical terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a relative clause (“which is also called ethanol”), a participle phrase (“starting with growth…”), and sequencing clauses. Most of the process remains understandable, but errors in verb forms and sentence construction are evident. For example, “plants and tress are grow” should use a passive form, and “sugar molecules are break down” has the same problem. “This leads the formation” is missing a grammatical link, while “which emits” does not agree with the plural vehicles. The final sentence also contains a repeated “of.” Work on passive constructions, subject–verb agreement, and complete clause patterns; these corrections would make the process description more controlled.

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