Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-05

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 6.0)

The diagram illustrates the production process for making sugar from sugar cane. The whole process includes total of seven steps and the estimated time for the completion of the process is around 19 months in which 12-18 months are for growing of the crop.

The process is not very complex in the beginning but the last three steps are really complicated to a large extent. The first step is growing the sugar cane in fields and it accounts 12-18 months for the crop to become ready to harvest.

In present days, in contrast to past when farmers used to harvest by hand, harvesting is done by machines. After it, the process of crushing the sugar cane is done for extraction of its juice. A limestone filter works for purifying the juice. Then the juice has to convert into a syrup.

Nevertheless, an evaporator is used, heating it causes the conversion of juice into syrup. Then comes the centrifuge which works for separating sugar crystals from syrup. The crystals are hot and wet so, they are dried and cooled properly. In this way sugar is prepared from sugar cane.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from growing to the final drying stage. You have successfully identified the key features, such as the timeframes and the transition from manual to mechanical harvesting. However, the analysis is slightly hindered by subjective commentary, such as describing the process as 'not very complex' or 'really complicated'. In an IELTS Academic Task 1, you should maintain an objective tone and focus purely on reporting the data provided in the diagram rather than evaluating the difficulty of the steps. To improve, ensure all stages are described with equal focus and avoid personal opinions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the production stages. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction and overview from the detailed process description. You use some cohesive devices like 'In present days', 'After it', and 'Nevertheless' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. For instance, 'Nevertheless' is used incorrectly here, as there is no contrast between the evaporator and the previous step. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words will help the flow of your writing feel more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'harvest', 'extraction', 'purifying', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the juice has to convert into a syrup' (should be passive: 'the juice is converted') and 'accounts 12-18 months' (should be 'accounts for'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the process clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Incorporating more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would strengthen this section.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'The whole process includes total of seven steps' is missing an article ('a total'), and 'it accounts 12-18 months' is missing a preposition. Additionally, 'heating it causes the conversion' is a bit clunky. You have a reasonable grasp of sentence structure, but more attention to articles, prepositions, and consistent verb forms would reduce the frequency of errors and improve the overall accuracy of your writing.

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.