Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-19

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 how the sugar is manufactured from sugar cane.

Overall, the process involves seven major steps which began from growing sugar cane for 12 to 18 months and ended at drying and cooling the sugar. After that the sugar is ready.

Initially, sugar cane grew for a period of 12 to 18 months. After growing, the sugar cane is harvested by the machines and the former. After that, the sugar cane is placed in a machine which crushed it and separates the juice. This juice is thus purified with a limestone filter. Then heat is provided to juice in the evaporator and the juice becomes the syrup.

After that this syrup is then placed in a centrifuge which separated the sugar crystals from syrup. Then it becomes pure sugar and ready for the drying and cooling. Thus the sugar is dried and cooled. After this sugar is manufactured.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully identifies the main features of the diagram, outlining the seven major stages of sugar production from growing to drying and cooling. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the start and end of the linear process. However, there are minor inaccuracies in reporting specific details, such as mentioning that sugar cane is harvested by "the machines and the former" (likely meaning 'farmer'), whereas the diagram depicts both mechanical and manual harvesting methods. Additionally, the description remains slightly mechanical, listing steps sequentially without fully synthesizing the information. Nonetheless, all key stages from the prompt are covered, satisfying the requirements for Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is coherent overall, with a logical progression following the steps of the manufacturing process. The writer uses standard sequential cohesive devices such as "Initially", "After that", and "Then" to guide the reader through the stages. Paragraphing is adequately utilized to separate the introduction, overview, and body steps. However, some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, and referencing is occasionally clunky, such as "After growing, the sugar cane is harvested...". Overall organization is clear, but paragraphing could be structured more cleanly to separate distinct phases of production. This warrants a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms from the diagram such as "crushed", "limestone filter", "evaporator", and "centrifuge". However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive, with frequent reliance on basic verbs. There is also a noticeable lexical error with the phrase "the former" instead of 'farmer', alongside awkward phrasing like "sugar is manufactured from sugar cane" (where the definite article is unnecessary). While less common items are attempted, inaccuracies in word choice prevent the score from reaching Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over structure. However, there are notable inconsistencies in tense usage, shifting between present and past tense awkwardly (e.g., "the sugar is manufactured", "sugar cane grew", "the sugar cane is harvested"). There are also grammatical errors such as missing pluralization or incorrect articles, including "how the sugar is manufactured" and "heat is provided to juice". While these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to place the grammar firmly in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range.

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

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