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 diagram illustrates the step by step production process of sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, the sugar manufacturing process undergoes seven stages which starts from growing and harvesting the canes to drying and cooling the sugar crystals.

The process commences with cultivating sugars canes which takes around a year or a half to grow. Once matured, the canes are harvested both manually by workers and mechanically using harvesters to cut and load the canes. These harvested canes proceed to the crushing phase. Here, the cane juice is crushed out using machines. Subsequently, through a limestone filter, the juice is purified to remove any impurities.

In the following stages, the purified juice is turned into syrup by heating it in an evaporator. Later, a centrifuge is used to separate sugar crystals from syrup. Finally, the crystals are dried and cooled in a container which is the final sugar ready to be consumed by people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the sugar production process. You have clearly outlined the seven stages, from cultivation to the final product. The overview is concise and provides a good summary of the process. However, to reach a higher band, you could improve by making more explicit comparisons between the stages or highlighting the transformation of the raw material more dynamically. For instance, noting the transition from solid cane to liquid juice and back to solid crystals would add depth. Overall, the task is addressed well, and the information is accurate according to the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas follows the chronological order of the process, which is appropriate for this task type. You have used cohesive devices such as 'Once matured', 'Subsequently', and 'In the following stages' to link sentences effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial stages from the final processing steps. The flow of information is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the sequence of events without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'cultivating', 'matured', 'purified', and 'centrifuge'. These terms are accurate and relevant to the context of the diagram. There is some minor repetition of 'canes' and 'sugar', but this is expected in a process description. To improve, you could incorporate more precise collocations or varied synonyms for 'process' or 'stages' to demonstrate a wider lexical range. Overall, the vocabulary is precise enough to convey the technical steps clearly without any errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly. There is a minor grammatical slip in the second paragraph: 'which starts' should be 'which start' to agree with 'seven stages'. Additionally, 'a year or a half' is slightly unnatural; 'a year and a half' would be more standard. Despite these minor issues, the grammatical control is strong, and the meaning is always clear. You have successfully used passive voice constructions, which are essential for process descriptions.

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

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