Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-31

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 process of producing sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, it is a seven-stage process that begins with growing sugar cane and ends with drying and cooling the sugar crystals. The process involves both mechanical and chemical stages.

First, sugar cane is grown for between 12 and 18 months until it is immature. It is then harvested either by a machine or manually with a knife. Next, the sugar cane is crushed in a machine, and juice is extracted from it.

After that, the juice is purified by passing it through a limestone filter. The purified liquid then enters an evaporator, where it is heated and some of the water is removed. As a result, the juice becomes syrup. In the sixth stage, the syrup is placed in a centrifuge. This machine spins the syrup rapidly and separates the sugar crystals from the remaining liquid. The sugar crystals are dries and cooled in a large container. The finished product is then ready for use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all stages of the sugar production process, from the initial growth of the sugar cane to the final cooling of the crystals. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview of the process. The information is accurate and well-sequenced. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly highlight the transition between mechanical and chemical phases more clearly, and perhaps provide a slightly more detailed summary of the inputs and outputs at each stage. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt comprehensively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and a step-by-step description of the process. You use cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Next', 'After that', and 'In the sixth stage' effectively to guide the reader through the sequence. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the overview from the detailed process. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. To improve further, you could vary your linking phrases slightly more to avoid a repetitive structure, but the current use is sufficient for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a process description, such as 'extracted', 'purified', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. The terminology is accurate and used in the correct context. There is a minor error in the final paragraph where you used 'dries' instead of 'dried'. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or synonyms for common process verbs would help elevate the lexical range to a higher level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ('sugar cane is grown', 'juice is extracted'), which are ideal for describing processes. The grammar is generally accurate, with only a few minor slips, such as the verb form error 'crystals are dries'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more participial phrases or relative clauses to combine steps more fluidly.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.