Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-22

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 6.5)

The illustration reveals the manufacturing process of sugar from sugar cane.

At a glance, it is clear that the manufacturing process consists of seven different stages to produce the sugar from sugar cane, starting with the cultivation of sugar cane and ending with the sugar, that we consume.

Looking at the process diagram in detail, in the first stage of the process, sugar cane is planted and grown for 12 to 18 months for to fully mature. After the maturation period, sugar cane is harvested either manually or mechanically. Next, harvested sugar cane is crushed by a machine to extract juice.

Regarding other stages, in the fourth stage, the juice is purified in a limestone filter to improve it's quality. Then the pure juice is heated in an evaporator chamber to produce syrup. After that, a centrifuge machine separates sugar crystals from the syrup. Finally, the sugar crystals is dried and cooled to make the sugar, that we eat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all stages of the process clearly and accurately. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the duration of growth and the various mechanical stages like crushing, purification, and centrifugation. The overview is concise and provides a clear summary of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure you include more comparative language where possible, such as contrasting the manual versus mechanical harvesting methods, rather than just listing them. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and a body paragraph that follows the chronological order of the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'At a glance', 'Looking at the process diagram in detail', 'Next', and 'Finally' helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction from the main process description. The flow of information is smooth, and the progression of ideas is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'cultivation', 'mature', 'harvested', 'purified', and 'centrifuge'. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations or synonyms to avoid repetition. For example, instead of 'make the sugar', you could use 'refine the final product'. The vocabulary is adequate for the task and demonstrates a good level of control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate, there are a few minor errors, such as 'it's quality' (should be 'its') and 'the sugar crystals is dried' (should be 'are dried'). Additionally, the phrase 'for to fully mature' is grammatically incorrect; it should simply be 'to fully mature'. Despite these occasional slips, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not interfere with the reader's understanding of the process.

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

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