Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

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 6.5)

The diagram shows how sugar is manufactured from sugarcane. Overall, there are several stages in the process, starting with growing sugarcane and ending with drying and cooling the sugar.

First, sugarcane is grown for about 12 to 18 months. After that, it is cut and transported by truck to a crushing machine. In this machine, the sugarcane is crushed and its juice is extracted. Next, the juice is purified to remove unwanted substances. After purification, the juice is transferred to an evaporator, where it is heated and changed into syrup.

After that, the syrup is put into a centrifuge, which separates the sugar crystals from the syrup. Finally, the sugar crystals are dried and cooled. After completing these stages, the sugar is ready for use. This whole process is carefully completed to produce clean and usable sugar from sugarcane. Overall, the process involves growing, crushing, purifying, heating, separating, drying, and cooling the sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student covers all the key stages of the sugar manufacturing process from the initial growing stage to the final cooling and drying. The main features are reported accurately, mentioning the 12 to 18 months growing period, the harvesting and crushing, juice purification via a limestone filter, evaporation into syrup, centrifugation, and finally drying and cooling. An overview is successfully provided at the beginning and reiterated at the end. However, the summary tends to rely heavily on sequential listing rather than deeply synthesising the information or grouping related phases. Nevertheless, all parts of the task are addressed competently, earning a solid Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised and progresses clearly from the beginning to the end of the process. The student makes effective use of sequential cohesive devices such as 'First', 'After that', 'Next', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the stages. Paragraphing is appropriately handled, separating the introduction/overview from the body steps and the conclusion. While the progression is logical and easy to follow, the reliance on basic transitional markers prevents the cohesion from being fully flexible or sophisticated, placing it firmly at a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a process, incorporating appropriate technical terms depicted in the diagram such as 'sugarcane', 'crushing machine', 'juice', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', 'syrup', 'centrifuge', and 'crystals'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary items like 'extracted', 'purified', and 'substances'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive ('sugar', 'juice', 'syrup', 'process' are repeated multiple times) and lacks the wider, more sophisticated lexical variety characteristic of higher bands. Word choices are natural and do not impede communication, resulting in a score of 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions ('is grown', 'is cut', 'is purified', 'is transferred') which are particularly appropriate for process descriptions. Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with correct punctuation and verb tenses throughout. Minor flaws include slightly repetitive sentence openings and formulaic concluding remarks, but the majority of sentences are error-free and communication is never impeded. This level of grammatical control and variety comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7.0.

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

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