Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-29

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 7.0)

The diagram illustrates the stages involved in producing sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, it is a linear process consisting of seven stages, beginning with the cultivation of sugar canes and culminating with the production of sugar after the drying and cooling stage.

Initially, sugar canes are planted in the soil and take around 12 to 18 months to mature. Once matured, they are harvested either manually by the farmer or mechanically by a harvesting machine. After this, the sugar canes are passed through a crusher to form juice which is purified by passing it through a limestone filter.

The fifth step involves subjecting the juice to heat in the evaporator which results in the conversion of the juice to syrup. The syrup, then, goes into a centrifuge which separates the sugar crystals from the syrup. The crystals are then then dried and cooled down in a steel container to produce sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all stages of the sugar production process, from cultivation to the final product. The overview is clear, identifying the process as linear and noting the total number of stages. Key features are highlighted, such as the harvesting methods and the transformation of juice into syrup and then crystals. The information is accurate and well-selected, providing a logical summary of the provided diagram. To reach a higher band, you could further emphasize the transformation points or the specific equipment used (e.g., the centrifuge) to provide a more detailed analysis of the process flow.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a summary overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once matured', 'After this', and 'The fifth step' are used effectively to guide the reader through the stages. Paragraphing is appropriate, separating the initial growth phase from the industrial processing phase. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for a process description. You used technical terms correctly, such as 'cultivation', 'mature', 'purified', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. The range is sufficient to describe the process with precision. There is a minor repetition of 'sugar canes' and 'juice', but this does not impede communication. To improve, you could incorporate more varied synonyms or more sophisticated collocations to describe the industrial actions, such as 'extracting' or 'refining'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'Once matured, they are harvested either manually by the farmer or mechanically by a harvesting machine.' There is a minor error in the final paragraph where 'then' is repeated ('then then dried'). However, the majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The use of passive voice is appropriate for a process description, which adds to the formal tone of the report.

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

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