Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-03

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)

The illustration shows the manufacturing process of deriving sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, the process starts from planting the sugar cane and requires mechanical processing in subsequent stages. Some stages can either require manual labour or machinery.

Firstly, the sugar cane is planted into the soil and becomes ready for harvestation in around 12-18 months. Harvesting can be done in two ways: either by workers handpicking the sugar cane or by specialised harvesting machinery. In the next step, the sugar cane sticks are crushed by a machine with rotating wheels at the side. This process squeezes the liquid out of the sugar cane and separates the juice from the bagasse.

The extracted juice still contains solid impurities, this is why it is filtered using a limestone filters. The clean liquid passes through and the solid remains are trapped. Then the purified juice is heated using fire in an evaporator. Most of the water evaporates and a thick syrup is left behind. The syrup is then spun in circular motion; the centrifugal force separates the crystals from the syrup. The sugar crystals are then stored in huge containers and left for drying and cooling. The end product obtained is sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers all stages of the sugar production process, from the initial growth of the sugar cane to the final product. You have successfully identified the key features, such as the two methods of harvesting and the specific mechanical stages like crushing, filtering, and evaporation. The overview provides a clear summary of the process, noting the transition from manual/mechanical labor to industrial processing. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the final output as a result of the entire cycle, which you have done well. The information is accurate and well-selected, providing a comprehensive summary of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from the start of the process to the end. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the initial stages (planting and harvesting) from the subsequent industrial processing steps. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In the next step', and 'Then' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the sequence. The flow of information is smooth and easy to follow. To improve further, you could incorporate a wider variety of linking phrases to avoid a slightly mechanical feel, but the current structure is clear and coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary relevant to the topic, such as 'mechanical processing', 'manual labour', 'impurities', 'evaporator', and 'centrifugal force'. These terms are used accurately and demonstrate a good grasp of the subject matter. There is a minor error with the word 'harvestation', which is not standard English; 'harvesting' or 'the harvest' would be more appropriate. Overall, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the process clearly and precisely, with only minor slips that do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There is a minor punctuation error in the sentence 'The extracted juice still contains solid impurities, this is why it is filtered...', where a semicolon or a conjunction would be grammatically superior to a comma splice. Additionally, 'using a limestone filters' contains a minor article/plurality error. Despite these small slips, the majority of your writing is accurate, and the grammatical range is sufficient for the task.

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