Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-15

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 diagram illustrates the process of manufacturing sugar from sugar cane, from the initial growing stage to the final drying and cooling of the sugar.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with the cultivation of sugar cane and ending with the production of dry sugar. The cane is first harvested and crushed to extract its juice, which is then purified, evaporated and separated from the syrup before the final product is dried and cooled.

Initially, sugar cane is grown for approximately 12 to 18 months until it reaches maturity. It is then harvested either mechanically, using a harvesting machine, or manually by workers. The harvested cane is subsequently crushed in a mill, where the juice is extracted from the cane.

In the next stage, the extracted juice is purified using a limestone filter. The purified liquid is then heated in an evaporator, causing the juice to lose water and become a thick syrup. This syrup is transferred to a centrifuge, which separates the sugar crystals from the remaining syrup. Finally, the sugar crystals are dried and cooled, producing the finished sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all stages of the sugar manufacturing process, from cultivation to the final product. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview in the introduction. The chronological progression is logical and easy to follow. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly highlight the 'comparisons' requested in the prompt, such as noting the two different methods of harvesting (mechanical vs. manual) as a distinct feature of the initial stage. Overall, the information is well-selected and accurately reflects the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-structured with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group the process stages logically. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'subsequently', 'In the next stage', and 'Finally' creates a smooth flow of information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the preparation stages from the processing stages. The progression of ideas is clear throughout the text, and referencing is accurate, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the sequence of the manufacturing process.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process accurately, including terms like 'cultivation', 'maturity', 'extracted', 'purified', and 'evaporator'. The language is precise and appropriate for a technical description. There are no spelling errors, and the word choices are natural. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or synonyms to describe the transformation of the substance, such as 'concentrated' instead of 'become a thick syrup' or 'crystallised' to describe the separation phase.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing demonstrates a good command of complex sentence structures, such as the use of participial phrases ('causing the juice to lose water') and passive voice constructions ('is purified', 'is extracted'), which are essential for describing processes. The grammar is highly accurate, with no significant errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The variety of sentence forms is sufficient to convey the information clearly and professionally, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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