Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-03

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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates various stages of how sugar is manufactured using sugar cane.

Overall, the whole manufacturing process is completed in seven different stages, from growing the sugar cane to drying and cooling. This huge task is mostly completed by mechanical processes.

At the initial stage, 1 to 1.5 years of grown sugar canes are chosen to make sugar. After selection, these need to be harvested. This step can be done in two different ways, either by using a harvesting tractor or manually. Then, the crushing stage begins to extract the juice out of the sugar cane sticks.

In the next phases, the juice is at first purified in the limestone filter following the evaporation in a cylinder-shaped jar, which is actually heated in the fire. The evaporation step helps the juice to turn into syrup so that the sugar crystals can be separated in the centrifuger. Lastly, the crystals are stored in a jar to dry and cool the finished product, which is sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all stages of the sugar manufacturing process, from cultivation to the final product. You have successfully identified the main features and provided a logical summary. However, to reach a higher band, you should focus on making more explicit comparisons where possible, such as contrasting the two harvesting methods or noting the transformation of the state of the matter (solid to liquid to syrup to crystal). The overview is clear, but could be slightly more analytical regarding the overall nature of the process. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. You use cohesive devices such as 'At the initial stage', 'After selection', 'In the next phases', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader through the steps. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of production. The progression is clear throughout the text. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is always smooth; some sentences feel slightly disconnected, but the overall flow remains easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using process-specific terms like 'harvested', 'crushing', 'purified', 'evaporation', and 'centrifuger'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as '1 to 1.5 years of grown sugar canes' (which is slightly awkward) and 'heated in the fire' (which is a bit simplistic). While you successfully convey the meaning, incorporating more precise academic collocations would elevate your score. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the process clearly without any significant errors that impede understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The evaporation step helps the juice to turn into syrup so that the sugar crystals can be separated'. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as '1 to 1.5 years of grown sugar canes' and 'the juice is at first purified in the limestone filter following the evaporation'. Despite these occasional errors, your control of grammar is generally good, and the meaning is always clear. Most sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout the response.

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

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