Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the process of extracting sugar from sugar cane which can take more than a year depending on the type of sugarcane used.

After sugarcane is harvested, it is crushed to form a juice which is later purified and evaporated until it becomes a syrup. The syrup is finally spined at a very high speed to separate sugar crystals which are then dried and packaged.

The initial stages include harvesting sugarcane which can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to grow. Harvestation is either done by hand or by the help of machines. After acquiring the sugarcane, it is crushed to separate the pulp from the juice, the juice is then purified using a limestone filter.

Once we have the purified juice, the rest of the process is pretty straightforward. The purified juice is heated to evaporate the excess water until it reaches a syrupy consistency. After that, a centrifugal machine is used to separate the sugar crystals from syrup by spinning it at high speeds. Once the crystals are separated, the sugar is dried, packaged and sent off to supermarkets.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the sugar production process, from harvesting to packaging. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview. However, the report could be improved by integrating the information more fluidly rather than repeating the process steps in the second and third paragraphs. While you mention the time taken for growth, this is background information rather than a core part of the manufacturing process shown in the diagram. To reach a higher band, ensure that every detail included is directly relevant to the mechanical or chemical stages of production depicted in the visual prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, a summary, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, following the chronological order of the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'After', 'Once', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the paragraphing is slightly repetitive; the second paragraph summarizes the process, and the third and fourth paragraphs then describe the same steps in more detail. This creates a sense of redundancy. Using more varied linking phrases and ensuring each paragraph introduces distinct information would improve the flow and cohesion of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'purified', 'evaporated', 'syrupy consistency', and 'centrifugal machine' correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'spined' (the correct term is 'spun') and 'harvestation' (which is not standard English; 'harvesting' is preferred). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire to include more precise technical collocations would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the passive voice ('is crushed', 'is purified'), which is appropriate for a process description. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'spined' instead of 'spun' and the non-existent word 'harvestation'. Additionally, there are some minor punctuation and phrasing issues, such as the comma splice in 'the pulp from the juice, the juice is then purified'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a greater focus on verb forms and sentence boundaries.

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

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