Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-13

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 picture given illustrates the process in which sugar is manufactured by using sugar cane, and the steps that are involved in the process.

Overall, it shows that it is a seven step process, in which sugar is obtained from sugar cane. It involve growing sugar canes, and passing them through different steps to manufacture sugar. Growing of sugar canes take around 12-18 months.

The first step in sugar manufacturing is growing sugar canes, which usually take 12-18 months. These sugar canes then go through the process of harvesting, which can be done manually or by using machines. These harvested sugar canes are then crushed to obtain juice from them.

In the fourth step, sugar cane juice gets purified by using a limestone filter and go through the evaporator in which heat is given to the juice to convert it into syrup. The syrup is then pssed through centrifuge to seperate sugar crystals from syrup. These sugar crstals are then left in a container to cool down and dry.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully identifies the main features of the sugar manufacturing process, starting from the cultivation of sugar cane through harvesting, crushing, purifying, evaporating, centrifuging, and drying. The response covers all seven main stages depicted in the diagram, meeting the core requirements of Task 1. However, the overview paragraph is a bit repetitive, restating that it is a 'seven step process' twice in consecutive sentences. Furthermore, there is a minor omission in fully synthesizing the final outcomes, such as the separation of raw sugar and molasses implied by the centrifuge stage. Despite these minor limitations in extension and depth, all key stages are presented, earning a solid Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall progression, guiding the reader logically from the initial growth phase through to the final drying stage. Paragraphing is utilized to separate the introduction, the overview, and the sequential steps of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'The first step', 'These sugar canes then', and 'In the fourth step' are employed to structure the narrative. However, cohesion sometimes feels slightly mechanical, and referencing occasionally borders on repetitive, with multiple sentences beginning with 'These' or 'The syrup is then'. Paragraphing could also be polished, as the second paragraph is very short and acts almost as an extended overview. Overall, the organizational structure is coherent enough to merit a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suitable for describing a manufacturing process, utilizing terms such as 'manufactured', 'harvesting', 'crushed', 'purified', 'evaporator', 'syrup', 'centrifuge', and 'crystals'. There are, however, some noticeable spelling and word choice inaccuracies, such as 'pssed' (passed), 'seperate' (separate), and 'crstals' (crystals). Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, and the range remains somewhat limited rather than flexible. While these lexical errors and minor slips do not impede overall communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band, placing it comfortably at a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as relative clauses ('in which sugar is obtained') and participial phrases ('passing them through different steps'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'which usually take 12-18 months' (referring to sugar canes, though 'take' should match or be phrased cleanly) and 'It involve' instead of 'It involves'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors are present, they rarely impede communication. The control of grammar aligns well with the Band 6 descriptor, where a mix of simple and complex structures is accompanied by occasional errors.

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