Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-30

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 the various steps in the production of ethanol, from harvesting all through to consumption by vehicles and aeroplanes.

To begin with, plants make food and grow by taking in sunlight and carbon dioxide. when they a mature enough, they are harvested and taken pre- processing to produce cellulose which thereafter begins the processing cycle. Cellulose undergo a series of steps to produce sugar.

Thereafter, microbes then acts on the sugars and hence ethanol is formed. Aeroplanes, trucks and small vehicles require ethanol to move. They combust it and produce carbon dioxide as a waste which is taken in by trees again and the process begins all over again.

To summarize, the production of ethanol is a continuous process which begins with trees being harvested and taken through a series of processes and finally the wastes product of ethanol combustion is used by trees to make food.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and identify the cycle, including plant growth, harvesting, cellulose processing, sugar conversion, ethanol use and carbon dioxide returning to plants. This is relevant and gives the reader a clear general account. However, some details are incomplete or imprecise: the diagram shows pre-processing before cellulose, then processing to produce sugars, but “Cellulose undergo a series of steps” does not clearly report that sequence. The overview also says the process begins with harvesting, whereas the cycle begins with plants growing through sunlight and carbon dioxide. The three transport modes are mentioned, though “small vehicles” is less precise than cars. The response is one word below the required minimum, and a fuller account of the stages would strengthen coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a description of the production stages, and a concluding summary. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “To begin with,” “Thereafter,” and “To summarize” help signal progression. This coherent organisation is a strength. To make the flow more controlled, connect the stages with more precise references rather than relying mainly on time markers. For example, “which thereafter begins the processing cycle” is unclear about what begins the cycle, and the final summary repeats earlier information without adding a sharper overview. Grouping the stages into plant growth and preparation, conversion, and fuel use would make the progression more deliberate.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “production,” “harvested,” “cellulose,” “microbes,” “combustion,” and “carbon dioxide.” These terms help communicate the diagram’s technical content, and meaning is generally clear. Some choices are imprecise or awkward for a process description: “plants make food” is less exact than describing how they use sunlight and carbon dioxide, while “waste product of ethanol combustion” is cumbersome. “Small vehicles” also does not match the diagram’s specific car label. Aim for accurate process collocations and concise wording, and avoid using “process” repeatedly where a more specific verb such as “convert” or “release” would clarify the stage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the opening phrase “from harvesting all through to consumption” and the linked clause “which is taken in by trees again.” The overall meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. Examples include “when they a mature enough” (the article is unnecessary and the verb form is incorrect), “Cellulose undergo” (subject–verb agreement), and “microbes then acts” (agreement). There are also punctuation and capitalisation slips, such as beginning “when” with a lowercase letter after a full stop, and spacing errors around hyphens. Check agreement and sentence boundaries carefully, and use a mix of accurate simple sentences and controlled subordinate clauses.

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