Ethanol fuel from corn: IELTS Task 1 answer #5, band 6.0

A student’s answer to this repeated IELTS question, shared without their name and marked by Axiom on the four criteria. Select a highlighted passage to see how it could be revised, and why.

149 words. Marked by Axiom on 18 March 2026. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

The process this answer describes

Ethanol fuel from corn: the stages in order

Corn
Storing
Milling
Cooking (4 hours)
Fermenting (48 hours)
Separating
Purifying Ethanol (5 hours)
Storing
Transporting

Academic Task 1149 words

The diagram below shows how ethanol fuel is produced from corn. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The picture illustrates the proccess of ethanol fuel production from corn.

Lexical resource
Close revision note
Revisedprocess
Corrects spelling error.

In general, there are three major levels, which corn covers before becoming a fuel; raw product preparation, start of the fuel cooking, post-production.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedIn general, the process of producing ethanol fuel from corn can be divided into three main stages: preparation of the raw material, processing and fermentation, and purification and storage.
Clarifies the stages and uses parallel structure for better cohesion.

Initial stage of the production starts from bringing corn to the storage, so it can be transported to the milling step consequantly. Later, when raw product is milled , water is added during the cooking proccess, which lasts four hours.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedThe initial stage involves storing the corn before it is milled.
Simplifies the sentence and improves logical flow.
Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedAfter the corn is milled, water is added and the mixture is cooked for four hours.
Clarifies the sequence and corrects grammar.

During the second stage, when the mass is cooked the fermentation starts. It takes 48 hours before the mass is ready to be separated. Filtering is there to take out the liquid, so it can be worked later.

Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedThe mixture is then separated into liquid and solid by-products, with the liquid being used for further processing.
Improves clarity and grammatical accuracy.

The final stage: purification starts when separation is over, at this point ethanol is taken from the liquid, thereby it takes 5 hours to be purified. Lastly, the fuel is ready to be stored and then transported.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedThe final stage begins after separation, when the liquid undergoes purification for five hours to produce ethanol.
Improves sentence structure and clarity.

Select a highlighted passage to see its suggested revision.

Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

What Axiom wrote for each criterion: why the answer earned its band, and what to work on next.

Coherence & cohesion

Band 6.0/ 9

The essay is logically organized and follows the sequence of the process. However, some transitions are abrupt, and there are minor issues with paragraphing and linking words. The grouping of stages is not fully clear, and some sentences are not well connected.

Suggestions

Use more cohesive devices to link ideas between sentences and paragraphs.
Clearly separate each stage of the process into distinct paragraphs.
Summarize the process in the conclusion or final sentence.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedIn general, the process of producing ethanol fuel from corn can be divided into three main stages: preparation of the raw material, processing and fermentation, and purification and storage.
Clarifies the stages and uses parallel structure for better cohesion.
RevisedThe initial stage involves storing the corn before it is milled.
Simplifies the sentence and improves logical flow.
RevisedThe final stage begins after separation, when the liquid undergoes purification for five hours to produce ethanol.
Improves sentence structure and clarity.

Grammar & accuracy

Band 6.0/ 9

There is a range of sentence structures, but several grammatical errors and awkward constructions reduce clarity. Subject-verb agreement and article usage need attention.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedThe initial stage of production starts with bringing corn to storage, after which it is transported to the milling step.
Improves sentence structure and grammar.
RevisedAfter the corn is milled, water is added and the mixture is cooked for four hours.
Clarifies the sequence and corrects grammar.
RevisedThe mixture is then separated into liquid and solid by-products, with the liquid being used for further processing.
Improves clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Lexical resource

Band 6.0/ 9

The vocabulary is generally appropriate, but there are several spelling and word choice errors (e.g., 'proccess', 'consequantly', 'srored'). Some repetition and awkward phrasing are present.

Sentence revisions 3

Revisedprocess
Corrects spelling error.
Revisedconsequently
Corrects spelling error.
Revisedstored
Corrects spelling error.

Task achievement

Band 6.0/ 9

The essay covers the main steps of the process but omits some details, such as the production of solid by-products. The summary is mostly accurate but lacks some comparisons and specific information from the diagram.

Suggestions

Mention both the liquid and solid by-products after separation.
Include more specific details from the diagram, such as the time taken for each stage.
Make comparisons where relevant, for example, by noting which stages take the longest.

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