Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-28

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 diagram showcasts the process of how biofuel called ethanol is produced.

Overall, the process of producing ethanol is a cycle, it has nine major steps which start from harvesting of plants and trees, until ethanol is produced it is used in vehicles and then released back in to the nature for plants and trees.

The process starts from harvesting plants and trees. They are taken to a pre-processing factory, where machines process them in to cellulose. Furthermore, cellulose is taken to be processed and complex sugars are obtained.

In the next step, microbes are added into the obtained sugars which forms ethanol. That is used in high performing engines of different vehicles like aeroplanes, cars and trucks. The exhaust gasses of these vehicles contains carbon dioxide, that is released into the environment from these vehicles. Carbon dioxide circulates in the environment and absorbed by plants and trees to grow along with sunlight.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You give a clear account of the main stages, including pre-processing, conversion to cellulose and sugars, the addition of microbes, and the use of ethanol in transport. Your overview correctly identifies the process as a cycle and notes that carbon dioxide returns to support plant growth. The sequence is generally accurate, but the description omits the initial role of sunlight and carbon dioxide in plant growth, and it does not clearly distinguish the processing stages shown in the diagram. The claim that there are “nine major steps” is not especially useful and may oversimplify the diagram’s stages. To strengthen the response, report the cycle’s starting point as well as its return, and describe the key inputs and outputs more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs that follow the production cycle in a broadly logical order. Linking expressions such as “Furthermore” and “In the next step” help signal progression, and the final sentence returns to plant growth, giving the account a sense of closure. However, some connections are awkward or unclear: “Overall, the process … is a cycle, it has nine major steps” joins two independent clauses with only a comma, while “until ethanol is produced it is used” makes the sequence difficult to follow. The reference in “They are taken” is understandable but could be more precise. Use clearer sentence boundaries and transitions to make the stages flow more smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of process vocabulary, including “pre-processing,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” and “carbon dioxide,” which suits the topic and helps convey the stages. Some choices are imprecise or unnatural, however. “Pre-processing factory” is not specified in the diagram, and “high performing engines” adds an unsupported detail rather than describing the vehicles neutrally. “Released back in to the nature” is awkward, while “exhaust gasses” contains a spelling error and is less precise than a standard process description. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit accuracy and naturalness. Aim for concise, diagram-based wording and check spelling and collocations when describing emissions and the cycle.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including relative clauses such as “where machines process them” and a sequence of linked process stages. Meaning is usually recoverable, but several grammatical errors remain. The opening should be “The diagram shows,” not “showcasts”; “the process … is a cycle, it has” is a comma splice; and “which forms ethanol” does not agree with the plural subject “microbes.” There are also errors in “the exhaust gases … contains” and “carbon dioxide … absorbed,” where the verbs need appropriate agreement or passive forms. Work on subject–verb agreement, complete sentence boundaries, and accurate passive constructions to improve control.

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