Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 step-by-step process of making sugar from sugarcane.

Overall, the process contains 7 steps for manufacturing sugar from sugarcane. In the first step sugarcane is grown fully and ends with drying and cooling.

In the initial step, sugarcane is planted and they take 12-18 months to mature. After 12-18 months they are harvested by farmers or tractors, when they are harvested, they go for the third process, which is crushing and they are turned into juice. In the fourth step, juice is purified by limestone filter.

In the fifth stage, those filtered juice is put into a small jar for heating, which is an evaporator and it is used for turning juice into syrup. Subsequently centrifuges is used for separating sugar crystals from syrup. In the final stage, they are put into a small bucket for drying and cooling. This process keeps repeating to make sugar from sugarcane.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all stages of the sugar manufacturing process, from growing and harvesting through to drying and cooling. An overview is provided, stating that the process contains seven steps, which addresses the main requirements of Academic Task 1. However, the details are somewhat basic and overly mechanical in referencing every minor visual element rather than synthesising information effectively. The description follows the linear diagram accurately, though it lacks deeper comparison between the two harvesting methods shown (mechanical versus manual). Nonetheless, all key stages are identified and reported, fulfilling the criteria for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is arranged logically into four paragraphs, providing a clear overall progression from the beginning to the end of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the initial step', 'After 12-18 months', and 'Subsequently' are used to guide the reader through the stages. Paragraphing is adequately managed to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps. However, some referencing is slightly weak, as seen in phrases like 'those filtered juice' and 'they are put', which creates minor cohesion issues. Overall organisation is coherent, supporting a solid Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, incorporating process-specific terms from the diagram such as 'sugarcane', 'harvested', 'crushing', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as 'those filtered juice' (should be 'this filtered juice') and repetitive phrasing like 'small jar' or 'small bucket'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main points, but lacks flexibility and precision, aligning closely with the Band 6 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'After 12-18 months they are harvested by farmers or tractors, when they are harvested, they go for the third process...'. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation lapses, including comma splices ('...turn into juice, in the fourth step...') and subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'those filtered juice is'). Despite these errors, meaning is rarely impeded, and basic structures are generally controlled well, warranting a Band 5.5.

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