Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16

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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the process of producing sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, it is a linear process which includes seven different stages. The first three stages consist of extracting juice from the sugar cane, while the remaining four stages involve processing and refining it into sugar.

Firstly, sugar cane is grown for 12 to 18 months until it reaches maturity. When it is ready, it is harvested either by hand or using machinery. The harvested cane is then crushed to extract the juice. This juice is passed through a limestone filter to remove impurities.

Next, the filtered juice is heated in an evaporator to produce syrup. After the syrup has been thickened, a centrifuge is used to separate sugar crystals from the liquid. In the final stage, the collected crystals are dried and cooled before being packaged as the final product.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview of the process and covers the main stages from growth to packaging. However, the response is 141 words long, which is below the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description or provide more detailed comparisons of the stages. While the main features are identified, the lack of sufficient length prevents a more comprehensive analysis of the process, which is necessary for a higher band score. To improve, you should expand on the details of the process, such as the specific conditions or the nature of the machinery used, to ensure you meet the word count requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. The use of transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'Next', 'After', and 'In the final stage' creates a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction and overview from the detailed process steps. The flow of information is smooth and easy to follow. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of cohesive devices to link the sentences more fluidly, rather than relying on a standard list of sequence markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is accurate and appropriate for describing a technical process. Terms such as 'maturity', 'impurities', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge' demonstrate a good grasp of the subject matter. The language is natural and precise enough to convey the steps clearly. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited; there is little use of less common or more sophisticated lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of proficiency. Expanding your vocabulary to include more descriptive verbs and precise technical collocations would enhance your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a good level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'When it is ready, it is harvested either by hand or using machinery' and 'This juice is passed through a limestone filter to remove impurities.' The passive voice is used appropriately for a process description. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve, you could aim to incorporate more varied complex structures, such as conditional or participle clauses, to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical flexibility.

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

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