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 for it to mature. Next, sugarcane is harvested by farmers 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 is then passed into an evaporator, where it is heated from beneath and condensed into syrup. 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 large 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 period and the transformation from sugarcane to sugar crystals. The overview is concise and effectively summarises the seven-stage cycle. To reach a higher band, ensure you make more explicit comparisons between stages or highlight the transformation of the state of the material (e.g., solid to liquid to solid) more prominently. Overall, the information is well-selected and logically presented, fulfilling the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised, with a clear introduction, a summary of the process, and distinct body paragraphs for the stages. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Next', 'Additionally', and 'In the subsequent stage' helps the reader follow the sequence of events smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the early agricultural phases from the later industrial processing phases. The progression of ideas is logical, and the referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'cultivation', 'mature', 'harvested', 'purification', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for a technical description. While the range is adequate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or synonyms for common verbs (like 'moves' or 'passed') would enhance the lexical variety. There are no spelling errors, and the word choice is consistently accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Next, sugarcane is harvested by farmers through labor or by using advanced agricultural machinery.' Punctuation is accurate, and the sentence structures are generally error-free. While the grammar is solid, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more varied passive voice constructions or relative clauses to describe the process with greater sophistication.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.