Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-02

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 illustration gives information about the manufacturing process for getting sugar from sugar cane. It starts with growing sugar cane and then goes through a whole process of harvesting, crushing, using evaporator and finally producing sugar.

Sugar formation starts with growing of sugar cane, which takes between 12 to 18 months. Afterwards, crop is harvested either manually or with the help of a machine. After this, a machine is use to crush sugar cane to get its juice and a limestone filter is use to purify the juice,

Furthermore, an evaporator is used to convert the juice into syrup with the help of heat. Syrup is then centrifuged in order to get sugar crystals from the syrup, and after that it is left in a container for drying and cooling.

Finally, after all the steps from growing sugar cane to making juice and then separating sugar crystals from syrup, sugar is the fruit of the whole process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the sugar production process, from the initial growth of the cane to the final product. The main features are identified, and the sequence is logical. However, the response lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is a requirement for Band 7+. The description is somewhat mechanical, simply listing steps rather than synthesizing the information. To improve, you should include an introductory sentence that highlights the key stages (e.g., the process involves several stages starting from cultivation and ending with the separation of sugar crystals).

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Afterwards', 'After this', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' are used to link the stages. However, the flow is somewhat repetitive, and the transition between the final step and the conclusion is a bit weak. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher band score. The paragraphing is appropriate for the task.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using process-specific terms like 'harvested', 'crushing', 'evaporator', 'centrifuged', and 'crystals'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is some repetition of basic verbs like 'used' and 'get'. There are no significant spelling errors, but the word choice is functional rather than precise. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more varied verbs and nouns related to industrial processes, such as 'extract', 'purify', or 'refine'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and articles, such as 'a machine is use' (should be 'used') and 'a limestone filter is use' (should be 'used'). Additionally, 'growing of sugar cane' is slightly unnatural; 'the growth of sugar cane' would be better. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage.

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

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