Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-15

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 process of how sugar is manufactured from sugar cane.

Overall, the process includes several stages. The process begins with the cultivation of sugar cane which takes approximately 12 to 18 months and ends with the packaging of sugar for the consumers.

Initially, the sugar cane is grown in the farm and then it is harvested, it can be done manually by farmers or with the help of available machines. Significantly, sugar cane is crushed in a machine to extract the juice out of them after that, available juice is transferred to the limestone filter for the purification process, so it should be clean from all the impurities.

Secondly, purified juice is heated well in the evaporator on high temperatures. Relatively, the juice is centrifuged to separate the crystals from the remaining syrup. Lastly, it is dried and cooled well for the final packaging.

The entire steps are mandatory for the conversion of sugarcane into sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing an overview and summarising the main stages of the sugar cane manufacturing process, from growing to packaging. The key steps—growing, harvesting, crushing, purifying, evaporating, centrifuging, and drying/cooling—are all mentioned in correct sequence. However, some stages could be expanded slightly to better highlight specific features, such as the two harvesting methods or the role of heat and limestone filters. Overall, the information is accurately reported and grounded in the visual data, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, comfortably landing at 6.5 due to slight under-development in describing the intermediary steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized logically with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, body paragraphs detailing the process steps, and a concluding sentence. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'after that', 'Secondly', and 'Lastly' are used to guide the reader through the sequence of the diagram. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and detailed stages. While the progression is mostly clear, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive in structure (e.g., 'The process includes... The process begins...'). Referencing is generally clear, though paragraph boundaries could be refined for better flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a process description, employing task-specific terms such as 'cultivation', 'harvested', 'crushed', 'purification', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuged'. There are some attempts at less common lexical items, but word choice and collocation are occasionally awkward or imprecise, such as 'heated well in the evaporator on high temperatures' and 'available juice'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication. This performance aligns well with Band 6.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating passive structures which are appropriate for a process description (e.g., 'sugar cane is crushed in a machine', 'purified juice is heated'). There are some instances of awkward phrasing and minor grammatical lapses, such as 'in the farm' instead of 'on the farm', and comma splices like 'then it is harvested, it can be done manually'. However, the majority of sentences are understandable, and complex structures are attempted with varying degrees of success. Control over grammar and punctuation is sufficient for a Band 6.0 score.

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

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