Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-07-28

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 7.5)

The supplied diagram demonstrates the process of producing sugar from sugarcanes, which involves seven different stages.

To begin with, sugarcane cultivation takes 12 to 18 months for the plants to mature. Once fully grown, the canes are harvested either manually or with the help of machinery. In the next stage, the harvested sugarcanes are crushed to extract juice.

Following this, the extracted juice undergoes purification using a limestone filter. The purified liquid is heated to evaporate excess water, resulting in a concentrated syrup, this syrup is subsequently placed into a centrifuge machine, where sugar crystals are separated from the liquid. Finally, the sugar crystals are dried and cooled, producing the final product ready for consuming and distribution of sugar to market.

Overall, the diagram demonstrates how sugar is manufactured from sugar cane through a series of mechanical and chemical processes, involving equipment such as crushers, filters, evaporators, centrifuges, and dryers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully identifies the key stages of the sugar production process, from cultivation to the final product. You have clearly outlined the sequence of events and included relevant details such as the use of specific machinery (crushers, centrifuges). The overview is concise and effectively summarises the main mechanical and chemical nature of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly highlight the most significant comparisons or transitions between the stages, rather than just listing them sequentially. Overall, the task is well-addressed and the information is presented in a clear, logical manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. You have used cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Following this', and 'subsequently' to guide the reader through the process. However, there is a minor punctuation error in the third paragraph: '...concentrated syrup, this syrup is subsequently...' creates a comma splice. Using a semicolon or a full stop would improve the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the stages of the process, which helps in maintaining a clear progression of information throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a process description, such as 'cultivation', 'mature', 'extract', 'purification', and 'centrifuge'. The terminology is accurate and fits the context of the diagram well. There is a slight awkwardness in the phrase 'ready for consuming and distribution of sugar to market', which could be phrased more naturally. Overall, your lexical range is sufficient to convey the technical steps clearly, and you demonstrate an ability to use topic-specific vocabulary effectively without repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free and clear. There is a minor grammatical issue in the final paragraph: 'ready for consuming and distribution' would be better as 'ready for consumption and distribution'. Additionally, the comma splice mentioned earlier ('...concentrated syrup, this syrup is...') is a recurring issue in student writing that affects the score for accuracy. Despite these minor slips, the control of grammar is generally strong, and the meaning is never obscured by the errors present.

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