Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-04

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 7.5)

The diagram illustrates the process of producing sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with the cultivation of sugar cane and ending with the drying and cooling of the finished product.

First of all, the process begins with planting sugar cane in the fields. The crop then takes approximately twelve to eighteen months to mature. Once the crop has matured, it is ready to be harvested. This task can be done in two ways either by using dedicated machinery or employing human labour. Furthermore, a crushing machine is used to extract the juice from the sugar cane. The extracted juice then flows through a limestone filter, where impurities are removed.

At the next stage, the juice is heating to evaporate the water and converts it into a thick sugar syrup. A centrifuge then rotates the prepared syrup to separate sugar crystals from liquid. In the final stage, sugar crystals are placed in a container, where they are dried and cooled before being packaged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully covers all stages of the sugar manufacturing process, from cultivation to packaging. You have identified the key features and presented them in a logical, chronological order. The overview is clear and effectively summarises the seven-stage process. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the input (sugar cane) and the final output (sugar) in the overview to provide a more comprehensive summary of the transformation. The information is well-selected, and the comparison regarding the two harvesting methods adds necessary detail to the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised, with a clear introduction, a body paragraph detailing the process, and a concluding stage. The use of cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Furthermore', 'At the next stage', and 'In the final stage' helps guide the reader through the sequence of events. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel, but the current structure is effective and appropriate for an Academic Task 1 response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'cultivation', 'mature', 'harvested', 'extract', 'impurities', 'evaporate', and 'centrifuge'. The word choice is generally precise and appropriate for the context of a technical process. There are no significant spelling errors. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common technical terms where appropriate, though your current range is more than adequate for a clear and accurate description of the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. However, there is a minor error in the sentence 'the juice is heating to evaporate', which should be 'the juice is heated to evaporate' (passive voice). Additionally, 'converts it into' should be 'converted into' to maintain parallel structure with the passive voice used earlier. Despite these minor slips, your control over complex structures is good, and the errors do not impede communication.

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

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