Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

How sugar is produced from sugar cane

Student answer (Band 6.5)

This article summarises the manufacturing of sugar from sugar cane , it has 7 major steps from growing sugar cane to making the sugar crystals.

The 'growing' phase of sugar cane ranges from 12-18 months , it is harvested and transported using tractors and other automobiles to the nearest factory for the next step. In the factory the sugar cane is crushed and the juice is purified using a limestone filter. The purified juice is heated and boiled in an evaporator the juice turns into syrup in the evaporator . The most important step of the manufacturing is 'Centrifuge', this technique separates sugar crystals from the syrup . Sometimes the crystals are also polished and introduced to some chemical treatment . The final step in manufacturing of sugar is drying and cooling of the crystals after it has been in the evaporator and it has been centrifuged in the process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from growing to the final product. However, it lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole, which is a key requirement for Task 1. The description is largely a sequential list of steps rather than an analytical summary. While the main features are identified, the response would benefit from grouping the stages (e.g., preparation, processing, and refining) to provide a more structured overview. The inclusion of specific details like the 12-18 month growth period is good, but the overall development is somewhat mechanical.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organised into two paragraphs, which is acceptable, but the flow between sentences is somewhat repetitive. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures and lack a variety of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly. For example, the transition between the crushing stage and the evaporation stage is abrupt. Using more linking words such as 'subsequently', 'following this', or 'once the juice has been purified' would improve the logical progression. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the second paragraph could be improved by better signposting the different stages of the factory process.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using technical terms like 'evaporator', 'centrifuge', and 'purified' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs like 'making', 'turns into', and 'is'. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'extraction', 'transformation', or 'subsequent'. There are no significant spelling errors, and the terminology used is accurate in the context of the diagram provided.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are a few grammatical slips, such as the comma splice in the first sentence ('...sugar cane , it has...'). Additionally, the phrasing 'after it has been in the evaporator and it has been centrifuged in the process' is slightly redundant and clunky. While the meaning is clear and communication is not impeded, the range of structures is limited. Incorporating more passive voice constructions (e.g., 'the juice is then heated') would be more appropriate for describing a manufacturing process.

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