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)

From growing the sugar cane to drying and cooling, the diagram illustrates various stages of how sugar is manufactured using sugar cane.

Overall, the whole manufacturing process is completed in seven different stages, such as growing, harvesting, crushing, purifying juice, evaporating, centrifuging, and drying and cooling. This multi-level process is mostly completed by mechanical processes.

At the initial stage, sugar canes, which are 1 to 1.5 years matured, are harvested to make sugar. Harvesting 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 centrifuge. 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 6.0

You have successfully identified the main stages of the sugar production process. You provided a clear overview and followed the sequence logically. However, to reach a higher band, you should focus more on the 'comparisons' aspect mentioned in the prompt. For example, you could have highlighted the contrast between the manual and mechanical harvesting methods or noted the specific transformation of the juice into syrup. While you covered the steps, the description of the 'limestone filter' and 'evaporation' could be more precise to fully capture the technical nature of the diagram. Overall, the response is accurate and covers all key features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a logical flow. You use transition signals such as 'At the initial stage', 'In the next phases', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the stages. To improve, ensure that the connection between sentences is slightly more varied; some of your transitions are quite standard. The progression of ideas is clear, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'harvested', 'extract', 'purified', and 'centrifuge' correctly. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive or simplistic, such as 'cylinder-shaped jar' or 'heated in the fire'. To achieve a higher score, try to use more precise technical collocations, such as 'evaporated into a concentrated syrup' rather than 'turn into syrup'. Your spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the relative clause in 'sugar canes, which are 1 to 1.5 years matured'. Most of your sentences are error-free and easy to understand. There are minor issues with article usage and preposition choice, such as 'in the fire' (should be 'by fire' or 'using heat') and 'in the limestone filter' (should be 'through a limestone filter'). These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication, showing a good level of control.

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