Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-18

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 provided diagram illustrates the step by step process of production of sugar as a byproduct of sugarcane.

Overall, the process consists of 7 steps beginning from plantation of sugarcanes and finalizing the byproduct by drying and cooling as a last step.

Beginning with plantation of sugarcanes in the fields for a year. Following this such canes are harvested from the fields using harvester or by manual labor. In the next stage, harvested crop is further transported to crusher which crushes the sugarcane and extract the sugarcane juice.

Subsequently, such liquid is purified using funnel and Limestone filter. Moreover, purified cane juice is transported to evaporator where excess water content is removed from the juice and thick syrup is obtained by heating the juice at high temperature. Once this is completed, further sent to Centrifuge for the extraction of sugar crystals from the syrup. Ultimately, In the final stage sugar crystals is further sent where such material is dried and cooled which results in sugar as a byproduct and further packaged and delivered in the markets for consumption.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the sugar production process. You have covered the sequence from plantation to packaging, which is essential for this task. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; sugar is not a 'byproduct' of sugarcane, but rather the primary product. Additionally, the description of the process could be more analytical by highlighting key transformations rather than just listing steps. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the raw material and the final product, and focus on the technical transitions (e.g., the change from juice to syrup) to better demonstrate a clear overview of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression from the initial stage to the final packaging. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Beginning with', 'Following this', 'Subsequently', and 'Ultimately' to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping the stages more effectively (e.g., separating the harvesting/preparation phase from the refining/processing phase). Referencing is generally clear, though the use of 'such' (e.g., 'such canes', 'such liquid') is occasionally repetitive and slightly unnatural in this context.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'harvested', 'purified', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to sugar as a 'byproduct' and using 'funnel' to describe the purification stage, which is not clearly supported by the diagram. The repetition of 'such' as a determiner limits the sophistication of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise technical collocations and avoid repetitive sentence starters.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly impede the flow, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('sugar crystals is further sent') and missing articles ('transported to crusher'). While the meaning remains clear, these persistent errors prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. You should pay closer attention to pluralization and the correct use of articles when describing technical processes. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while ensuring accuracy in subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your score.

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

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