Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-24

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 given diagram illustrates the information about manufacturing process of sugar from the sugar cane.

Overall, there are seven main stages, beginning with the growing of sugar cane and ending with the drying and cooling of the final sugar. The process illustrates both agricultural and industrial activities.

Firstly, process start with the growing of sugar canes. sugar canes take around 12-18 months to grow. After that farmer harvesting the sugar canes by them self or by machine and the send for the crushing. The crushing machine producing the juice from the sugar canes. In the fourth stage juice is purifying by the limestone filter.

In the fifth stage, the purified juice is then heated in an evaporator, where the juice becomes syrup. Next, the syrup is placed in centrifuge which separates sugar crystals from syrup. At the end, the sugar crystals are dried and cooled in large container. The finished sugar is the then ready for use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all stages of the process, from the initial growth of the sugar cane to the final product. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview of the process. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the information. To reach a higher band, ensure that you describe the transitions between stages more fluidly rather than just listing them sequentially. While you have mentioned the seven stages, the explanation of the 'centrifuge' and 'evaporator' could be slightly more detailed to demonstrate a fuller understanding of the industrial process shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. You have used basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'After that', 'In the fourth stage', and 'Next' to guide the reader. While these are effective, the paragraphing is a bit fragmented, and the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking phrases to connect the stages more naturally. The referencing is generally clear, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'manufacturing', 'purifying', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'process start' instead of 'the process starts' and 'farmer harvesting' instead of 'farmers harvest'. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs and ensuring correct word forms. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the variety and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'the sugar canes' (unnecessary article), 'the send for the crushing' (incorrect verb form), and 'juice is purifying' (should be passive voice: 'is purified'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and correct passive voice construction will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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