Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-22

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 illustrate how the process produced the biofuel called ethanol is made.

Overall, the process consists of several stages, at the beginning with the growth of plants and trees grow. In addition, ending with creating ethanol use of as a fuel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies the subject as ethanol production and gives a brief overall statement that the process has several stages and ends with ethanol. However, it does not summarise the main stages shown: plant growth, harvesting, pre-processing into cellulose, processing into sugars, the addition of microbes, and ethanol production. It also omits the important cycle in which carbon dioxide from transport returns to support plant growth. The phrase “ending with creating ethanol use of as a fuel” gestures towards the final outcome but does not clearly report the diagram’s transport uses. The response is substantially below the required 150 words, leaving too little detail to fulfil the task. To improve, describe the sequence and explain the carbon-dioxide cycle in a fuller overview and body.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence is followed by an overview beginning with “Overall,” and the writer signals a start and an ending. This gives the reader a minimal sense of the process’s direction. However, there is no developed sequence of stages, and the overview is incomplete, so the ideas do not progress through the diagram. The linking phrase “In addition” does not clearly connect the ending to the preceding point, while “at the beginning” and “ending with” are not supported by descriptions of the intervening steps. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and the process details, then connect each stage with clear sequencing language such as “next,” “after this,” and “finally.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses a few relevant terms, including “biofuel,” “ethanol,” and “plants and trees,” which show awareness of the topic. However, the vocabulary range is very limited for describing a multi-stage process, and some phrasing is inaccurate or awkward. “The process produced the biofuel called ethanol is made” combines competing constructions, while “creating ethanol use of as a fuel” does not express the final stage clearly. More precise process vocabulary would help report the diagram, for example “harvested,” “pre-processed,” “cellulose,” “sugars,” and “microbes.” Aim to use these labels accurately and form natural collocations, such as “ethanol is used as a fuel” and “carbon dioxide is released.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts both a main clause and an overview sentence, but grammatical control is inconsistent. In “The diagram illustrate,” the singular subject requires “illustrates”; “how the process produced … is made” also mixes verb forms and sentence patterns. The overview contains the fragment-like construction “at the beginning with the growth of plants and trees grow,” where the phrase after “with” is not grammatically integrated. Similarly, “ending with creating ethanol use of as a fuel” lacks a clear subject and has an incomplete verb pattern. These errors make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Practise writing complete sentences with one clear subject and verb, and check agreement, verb forms, and parallel structure.

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.