Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17

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)

This diagram shows the process of producing sugar from sugarcane using a flow diagram.

At first, the sugarcane plants are grown which usually takes 12 to 18 months. Then the plants are harvested by farmers manually or sometimes by the machines. The third step is crushing the sugarcane until it produces all the juice it holds. The juice produced is then purified with the help of a limestone filter which removes the unwanted objects or any insects in it. After this process is done, the juice is poured into an Evaporator, where the juice is converted into a syrup after its heated for a specific amount of time. When there is s successful conversion of juice into a syrup, it is then transferred into a centrifuge. This separates sugar crystals from the syrup. After the separation, the sugar crystals are dried and are left to cool down.

The successful completion of all these 7 steps, then produces the sugar which is used by the people in their day-to-day life for many purposes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from growing the sugarcane to the final product. However, it lacks a clear overview, which is essential for a Band 7 or higher. The description is purely sequential and misses the opportunity to highlight key features or group stages logically (e.g., preparation, extraction, and refinement). While the information is accurate, the lack of an introductory summary or a concluding synthesis of the process flow limits the score. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview of the process in the introduction and avoid simply listing steps as if narrating a story.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the diagram. The use of transition words like 'At first', 'Then', 'The third step', and 'After this process' helps the reader follow the sequence. However, the paragraphing is unbalanced; the final paragraph is very short and could have been integrated into the main body. Additionally, some cohesive devices are slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary the linking phrases and ensure that paragraphs are of a more consistent length to improve the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using process-specific terms like 'harvested', 'crushing', 'purified', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'unwanted objects or any insects in it' and 'there is s successful conversion'. These choices are a bit informal or imprecise. To reach a higher band, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary, such as 'impurities' instead of 'unwanted objects' and 'facilitate' instead of 'help'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'the sugarcane plants are grown which usually takes' (missing a comma before 'which') and 'after its heated' (should be 'it is heated'). The phrase 's successful' is a clear typo. While these errors do not impede communication, they demonstrate a lack of consistent control over complex structures. To improve, focus on proofreading for small errors and practice using more varied complex sentence forms, such as passive voice constructions, which are highly appropriate for process descriptions.

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

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