Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-19

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 given diagram illustrates, a clear pathway in production of sugar from sugarcane.

Overall, it is clear from the given diagram that manufacturing of sugar involves both physical and mechanical activities. The process begins with growing sugarcanes and ends with drying and cooling of sugar.

First and foremost step is growing sugarcanes which usually takes 12-18 months. These sugarcanes are then harvested in two ways, either by machines or manually by labor. Harvested sugarcane is crushed using a crushing machine to extract juice from the cane. Extracted juice from sugarcane is purified using limestone filter which separates various particles from the juice.

Purified juice is subjected to heat in an evaporator due to which the sugarcane juice becomes syrup. This syrup undergoes centrifugation in which separation of sugar crystals from syrup takes place. The last step involves drying and cooling of sugar crystals which is now refered to as sugar.

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. The overview is clear and identifies the main nature of the process. However, the response lacks a comparative element. While the prompt asks to 'make comparisons where relevant,' the student mentions the two harvesting methods but does not compare the stages or highlight the transformation effectively. The description is accurate but remains somewhat descriptive rather than analytical. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on synthesizing the information rather than just listing the steps sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost,' 'These,' and 'The last step' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow is slightly mechanical. The transition between the harvesting stage and the crushing stage could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the connection between sentences could be more varied to improve the overall flow and progression of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with subject-specific terms like 'centrifugation,' 'evaporator,' and 'purified' used correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice and phrasing, such as 'a clear pathway in production' (should be 'the production') and 'refered to as sugar' (spelling error: 'referred'). The range is sufficient to describe the process clearly, but it lacks the sophistication or flexibility required for higher bands. The student relies on fairly standard terminology and could benefit from more precise collocations to describe the industrial nature of the process.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as the unnecessary comma after 'illustrates' in the first sentence and the missing article before 'manufacturing' in the second sentence. The phrase 'due to which the sugarcane juice becomes syrup' is a good attempt at a complex structure, though it is slightly clunky. Most sentences are clear and the meaning is never obscured by errors. To improve, the student should focus on article usage and refining punctuation to ensure a more professional, error-free tone.

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

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