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 given illustration highlights the different processes involved in the production of sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, the production of sugar from sugar cane involves 7 steps. Sugar canes usually take around 12-18 months to grow. Once they are fully developed, they are harvested using machines or traditional techniques which require manpower.

After they are harvested, the sugar canes are crushed in a mechanical machine which extract the juice present in them. The juices are hence purified using a limestone filter. The purified juice is then kept in an evaporator. The main aim of the evaporator is to convert the filtered juice into a syrup with the help of heat.

Once the evaporation process is completed and the juice is converted into syrup, it is then kept into a centrifuge. The centrifuge separates the sugar crystal present in the syrup. The separated crystals are finally left for drying and cooling, and the final product is obtained. This is the last step which is involved in the production of sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the process well, from harvesting to the final product. You have successfully identified the key steps and presented them in a logical sequence. However, to reach a higher band, you should focus more on the 'overview' aspect. While you mention there are 7 steps, a more effective overview would highlight the transformation from raw material to refined product, perhaps noting the transition from mechanical processing to chemical purification and thermal treatment. The inclusion of the growth period (12-18 months) is accurate, but ensure that the focus remains primarily on the manufacturing process itself as requested by the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct phase of the production process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'After they are harvested', 'Once the evaporation process is completed', and 'finally' helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the initial stages, and the final processing steps. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases further to avoid a slightly mechanical feel, and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'they', 'the juice') is always precise to maintain smooth flow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'harvested', 'purified', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. The language is generally accurate and appropriate for a technical description. There are a few minor issues, such as 'mechanical machine' which is slightly redundant, and 'sugar crystal' which should be pluralized as 'crystals'. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more precise collocations and less common technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'by-product', 'sedimentation', or 'crystallization', to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the topic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use passive voice effectively, which is essential for process descriptions (e.g., 'are crushed', 'are hence purified'). There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'kept into a centrifuge' (should be 'kept in' or 'placed in') and 'sugar crystal present' (should be 'crystals present'). Despite these, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication. To improve, aim for more complex sentence structures, such as using participle clauses to combine steps, which would enhance the overall flow and grammatical variety.

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

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