Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-20

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 6.5)

The illustration demonstrates how ethanol which is a biofuel is produced.

Overall, the production of ethanol consists both natural process and human intervention and contains nine cyclical phases, beginning with growing plants and trees and ending with emission of carbon dioxisde from various things.

To begin with, plans and trees grow by consuming sunlight and carbon dioxide from nature. Subsequently, these are harvested by people so that these can be preprocessed through a machine for the next stage. The cellulose that is produced from preprocessing is then processed in laboratories to extract sugar components.

In the next stage, microbes are added to the sugar components to prepare Ethanol. Ethanol is then used for fueling cars, trucks and planes. After the fuel consumption by these vehicles, these produces carbon dioxide in the nature. Finally, These carbon dioxide particles along with sufficient sunlight is then consumed by the trees and plants to grow again.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the diagram as a cyclical process and give a useful overview of its natural and human stages, from plant growth through fuel use and the return of carbon dioxide. Most key stages are included, including harvesting, preprocessing, cellulose, processing, sugars, microbes and transport. This covers the task well, but some details are less fully or precisely reported: the diagram shows sunlight and carbon dioxide supporting plant growth, while the final return arrow is specifically carbon dioxide; it does not show sunlight being consumed at that point. Also, “processed in laboratories” and “through a machine” add details not established by the diagram. To strengthen the response, describe the labelled stages and cycle accurately, without inferring the setting or equipment.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into an introduction, a clear overview and two chronological paragraphs, so the reader can follow the process from plant growth to fuel use and the carbon cycle. Sequencing expressions such as “To begin with,” “Subsequently,” “In the next stage” and “Finally” help signal progression. The overall flow is clear, though the repeated stage-by-stage transitions make cohesion somewhat formulaic. Some references are also unclear: “these” in “these are harvested” and “these produces carbon dioxide” require the reader to infer the intended noun. Use more precise references, such as “the plants” or “the vehicles,” and vary linking methods by connecting related stages within sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “harvested,” “preprocessed,” “cellulose,” “microbes” and “fueling,” which helps explain the diagram. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “consists” and “emission.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “extract sugar components” is not clearly supported by the diagram, “carbon dioxide particles” is unnatural, and “consuming sunlight” is less suitable than describing plants as using sunlight. Spelling errors such as “dioxisde” and “plans” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural process language and check spelling carefully; for example, use “sugars are produced” and “carbon dioxide is released.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including a relative clause in “ethanol which is a biofuel” and time clauses such as “After the fuel consumption by these vehicles.” The sequence is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. In the overview, “consists both natural process and human intervention” needs a structure such as “involves both natural processes and human intervention.” There are agreement and reference problems in “these produces carbon dioxide,” and “These carbon dioxide particles … is then consumed” has mismatched number and an unsuitable demonstrative. Capitalisation is inconsistent in “Ethanol” and “These.” Review subject–verb agreement, articles and plural forms, and use a wider range of accurately controlled sentence patterns.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.