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 demonstrates the process of production of sugar from sugar cane. The production of sugar undergoes various steps and the three main steps include: harvesting the grown sugar canes, after which they are crushed to a liquid form. The sugar is made from this liquid when it goes through some mechanical and chemical processes.

Initially, the growth of the sugarcanes require a year or half a year. After their growth, they are harvested by the farmers. The sugarcanes are then crushed to produce a juice which is used in the manufacturing of sugar. The juice obtained is filtered with the help of limestone filter in order to purify the juice. The purified juice is then placed in an evaporator where it goes under a chemical process where the juice turns into the syrup with the help of the heat. The obtained syrup is then placed in a centrifuge where sugar crystals are separated from the syrup. Finally, the sugar crystals are dried and cooled down in order to get the sugar in its usable form.

Overall, the manufacturing process of sugar involves various steps. The three main steps are harvesting the sugar canes, cruhing them to obtain the juice and then final step includes some mechanical and chemical processes in order to make the sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all main stages of the sugar manufacturing process, from growing and harvesting through to drying and cooling. An overview is provided, identifying the main steps such as harvesting, crushing, and subsequent chemical/mechanical processing. The details match the visual data closely, tracing the progression logically. However, the overview could be more concise and integrated, and the division into three main steps is slightly repetitive between the introduction and conclusion. Nevertheless, all parts of the task are addressed adequately, meriting a Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is generally coherent with a logical progression from the initial growth of sugar cane to the final product. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body description, and overview/conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the sequence, such as 'Initially', 'After their growth', and 'Finally'. However, referencing and transitions can occasionally feel slightly mechanical, and the repetition of the 'three main steps' in both the introduction and conclusion detracts slightly from smooth cohesion. Overall, the organizational structure is clear and easy to follow, supporting a Band 6.5 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a process diagram, using terms such as 'manufacturing process', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', 'centrifuge', and 'sugar crystals'. There are some attempts at less common phrasing, though a few awkward collocations appear, such as 'growth of the sugarcanes require a year or half a year' instead of 'take 12 to 18 months'. Spelling is mostly accurate, but there is a typo in the conclusion ('cruhing' instead of 'crushing'). Communication is never impeded, reflecting the characteristics of a Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and passive structures like 'the juice obtained is filtered' and 'sugar crystals are separated'. There are some grammatical slips and awkward phrasings, such as 'the growth of the sugarcanes require' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'goes under a chemical process' (preposition choice; 'undergoes' would be better). Punctuation is generally sound, and errors do not impede communication. This balance of complex structures alongside minor inaccuracies fits comfortably into Band 6.0.

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