Band 8 model answer
A model answer written to illustrate a Band 8 response to this question, with the rubric breakdown and what carries it. Written by us as a teaching example, not a verified exam script.
“The diagram shows the life cycle of a butterfly.”8
Overall
8
Task response
8
Coherence & cohesion
8
Lexical resource
8
Grammar
The diagram illustrates the complete life cycle of a butterfly, showing the four key stages of development from egg to adult.
Overall, the process is cyclical and takes approximately 30 days to complete. It begins when an adult butterfly lays eggs and ends when the next generation of adults emerges, at which point the cycle begins again.
In the first stage, a female butterfly lays eggs on the surface of a leaf, where they are protected while they develop. After a short period, the eggs hatch and tiny larvae, or caterpillars, emerge. The caterpillar feeds actively on leaves, growing considerably in size over the following days as it accumulates the energy needed for its transformation.
Once it has reached sufficient size, the caterpillar attaches itself to a branch or stem and forms a hard protective case called a chrysalis, or pupa. Inside this structure, the insect undergoes a remarkable transformation over several days. Eventually, a fully formed adult butterfly breaks free from the chrysalis. The adult butterfly then feeds, matures, and, in time, finds a mate and lays a new batch of eggs on a leaf. The cycle then repeats, taking roughly 30 days from start to finish.
- •Overview correctly identifies the process as cyclical, states the approximate duration, and names the start and end points without pre-empting the detail.
- •The cyclical nature is made explicit at both the overview and the conclusion of the body: 'the cycle then repeats'.
- •Present simple active is used correctly and consistently throughout, appropriate for a natural biological process.
- •All four stages are covered in sequence with precise terminology: 'larva', 'chrysalis', 'pupa'.
- •The phrase 'over the following days' is slightly vague; a more specific time reference for the larval stage would sharpen the description.
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