Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-17

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 diagram illustrates how a biofuel called ethanol is being produced.

Overall, it initially produces energy which helps trees grow. After the plants are grown, they are harvested.It undergoes pre-processing and processing which produces ethanol.

At first step, the sunlight with the help of carbon dioxide gives out energy, which is helps plants and trees grow. The second major step, where the harvesting takes place with a tractor once the plants grow.

The pre- processing step, is initiated where the trees are inserted in the machine to produce cellulose.In processing step the cellulose undergoes chemical fermentation in which gives sugars, after which microbes are added to it which produces ethanol. Ethanol is used in various modes of transports like cars, airplans and trucks which in turn gives out carbon dioxide in the atmospher, this co2 forms a loop to again produce energy with the help of sunlight.

In conclusion, ethanol is produced for different transport system and has a loop system where it indirectly produces carbon dioxide which helps in the initial production of ethanol

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages, from plant growth and harvesting through processing, sugar production, the addition of microbes and ethanol use in transport. The overview also recognises that the process forms a cycle. However, some details are unclear or not supported by the diagram: it shows sunlight and carbon dioxide as inputs for plant growth, rather than saying they “give out energy,” and it does not specify that processing involves chemical fermentation. The final explanation that carbon dioxide helps “produce energy” also misstates the cycle: carbon dioxide returns to the plants, while sunlight supplies energy. To strengthen the response, describe these relationships precisely and make the overview focus on the production stages and the carbon cycle.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by a description of the stages and a concluding statement. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “At first step” and “after which” help signal progression. However, the overview and conclusion repeat the cycle, while some transitions are awkward or unclear, particularly “The second major step, where the harvesting takes place” and “In processing step.” Paragraphing is also uneven, with a line break separating the first stages from the rest without a clear reason. Group the stages into a more consistent sequence, use concise linking phrases, and avoid repeating the same overall point.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “carbon dioxide,” which helps communicate the diagram’s stages. There are also attempts at more specific terms, such as “chemical fermentation,” although this is not shown in the visual. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “gives out energy” does not describe the diagram, “modes of transports” is unnatural, and “forms a loop” is less precise than describing carbon dioxide returning to the plants. Spelling errors such as “airplans” and “atmospher,” along with “co2,” reduce accuracy. Use standard technical terms consistently and check spelling and natural phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning “which” and “after which,” and the overall meaning is usually understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur. For example, “which is helps plants and trees grow” has an incorrect verb construction, while “The second major step, where the harvesting takes place” is an incomplete sentence. There are also problems with articles and sentence boundaries in “At first step” and “cellulose.In processing step,” as well as agreement and clause structure in “which produces ethanol.” These errors sometimes make relationships between stages less clear. Practise forming complete sentences with accurate subject–verb patterns, and proofread punctuation and spacing, while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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