Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-26

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 step-by-step process of manufacturing sugar from sugarcane.

It is clear that manufacturing sugar from sugarcane involves seven different steps and a variety of specialized machinery and equipment is used from planting sugarcane to the drying and cooling of the final product sugar.

At the beginning of the process, sugarcane is cultivated which may take 12-18 months to mature. After the maturation period, sugarcane is harvested and loaded onto a truck for transport to a sugar mill. After that, juice is extracted from sugarcane by pressing it using a crusher machine.

In the next step, the extracted juice is purified by filtering it through a limestone filter. Then, the purified juice is heated in an evaporator until it turns into the syrup. In the centrifuge machine sugar crystals are separated from syrup. In the final step, these sugar crystals are dried and cooled in preparation for packaging and distribution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from cultivation to final packaging. The overview is clear and identifies the main features of the process. However, the response lacks a clear comparison or synthesis of the stages. While it describes the steps sequentially, it does not highlight the key transitions or the nature of the process (e.g., the transformation from raw material to refined product) as effectively as a higher band would. The information is accurate, but the development is somewhat mechanical, following the diagram step-by-step without grouping related stages or providing a more analytical summary of the manufacturing flow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and a sequential flow of information. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial stages from the processing stages. Cohesive devices such as 'At the beginning of the process', 'After that', 'In the next step', and 'In the final step' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. The progression is clear, but the lack of more sophisticated linking phrases or varied transition markers limits the flow to a basic level of coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with accurate use of technical terms such as 'cultivated', 'maturation', 'extracted', 'purified', and 'centrifuge'. The range is sufficient to convey the process clearly. However, there is a lack of less common lexical items or more sophisticated collocations that would elevate the response. The phrasing is functional but predictable. There are no significant spelling errors, and the terminology used is appropriate for the context of a process description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and the meaning is always clear. There are occasional minor errors, such as the unnecessary article in 'the final product sugar' and the slightly awkward phrasing 'In the centrifuge machine sugar crystals are separated'. While the grammar is generally reliable, the range of structures is somewhat limited, relying heavily on simple passive constructions. To achieve a higher band, more varied complex sentence structures and a higher degree of accuracy in article usage and prepositional phrases would be required.

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

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