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 the production process for making sugar from sugarcane.

Overall, the whole cycle consists of seven stages. The process begins with the cultivation of sugarcane and ends at the production of sugar crystals.

In the initial stage, farmers cultivate the crop of sugarcane and wait for twelve to eighteen months to mature. Next, farmers harvest sugarcane through labor or by using advanced agricultural machinery. Additionally, sugarcane then passes through a crushing machine to extract juice from it. The juice of sugarcane subsequently moves through a limestone filter for purification.

In the subsequent stage, the purified juice of sugarcane then passes through an evaporator to turn the juice into syrup by the use of a heating process through flames from below. Moreover, syrup of sugarcane is then transferred to a centrifuge setup to separate the sugar crystals from the syrup. At the end, sugar is stored in a big storage tank for drying and cooling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all stages of the process clearly and accurately. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the cultivation, crushing, purification, evaporation, and centrifugation stages. The overview is concise and effectively highlights the seven-stage nature of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure you make more explicit comparisons or highlight the transformation of the raw material more dynamically. For instance, you could mention how the physical state changes from solid cane to liquid juice and finally to solid crystals. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a logical progression from the start to the end of the process. You use cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Next', 'Additionally', and 'In the subsequent stage' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the flow between sentences is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the early stages of cultivation and crushing from the later stages of evaporation and crystallization.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using subject-specific terms like 'cultivation', 'crushing machine', 'purification', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. While the vocabulary is accurate and sufficient to describe the process, it lacks a degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the score. Some phrasing is slightly simplistic, such as 'big storage tank' or 'by the use of a heating process'. Incorporating more precise collocations and academic terminology would enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are some minor grammatical awkwardnesses, such as 'by the use of a heating process through flames from below', which is a bit wordy and slightly unnatural. You have good control over basic grammar, but to achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The juice is then passed through...') to describe the process more formally.

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

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