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, the 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, from cultivation to the final storage stage. The overview is concise and provides a clear summary of the seven-stage cycle. To reach a higher band, you could improve the 'comparative' aspect of the task by highlighting the transformation of the raw material more explicitly or noting the transition from physical processing (crushing) to chemical/mechanical processing (evaporation/centrifugation). Overall, the information is well-selected and logically presented, fulfilling the requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Next', 'Additionally', 'subsequently', and 'In the subsequent stage' to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different phases of production. The flow is smooth, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage, and the referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using subject-specific terms like 'cultivation', 'mature', 'purification', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for describing a process, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied verbs to describe the changes, such as 'condensed into' or 'extracted from'. There are no spelling errors, and the word choice is consistently precise enough to convey the intended meaning without ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use passive voice appropriately, which is essential for process descriptions (e.g., 'sugarcane is harvested', 'is then passed into'). Most sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is solid. While the grammar is accurate, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited; you rely heavily on simple 'subject-verb-object' patterns. Incorporating more varied subordinate clauses or participial phrases would enhance the grammatical complexity and help demonstrate a wider range of control.

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