Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-26

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 sugar cane is converted into sugar, undergowing various steps. Overall, it can be seen that the manufacturing process of sugar from sugar cane comprises on three major stages. Growing, harvesting and crushing of sugarcane marks initial stages, followed by purifying and evaporating the juice. The final stage convert that juice into sugar.

Looking at the details, the process begins with growth of sugarcanes in fields that takes about 12 to 18 months to complete. The sugarcane is then harvested into simpler forms, followed by the third step of crushing where harvested sugar cane produce abundance of sugarcane juice. This juice is then purified using a limestone filter as the next step of producing sugar.

After the juice has been purified, at the next stage, an evaporator is used to convert this sugar cane juice into a syrup with the help of high heat. The heated syrup then undergoes through a machine called centrifuge that separates new formed sugar crystals from the syrup. After the separation, the sugar particles are then dried and cooled as the final step.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student covers all the key stages of the sugar manufacturing process, from growing and harvesting through to crushing, purifying, evaporating, centrifuging, and drying/cooling. An overview is attempted in the introduction, noting major stages, although the claim that it comprises 'three major stages' is slightly imprecise given the linear flow of seven distinct steps. However, the main features and sequence are correctly reported without significant omissions or inaccuracies. The student successfully tracks the transformation of sugar cane into juice, syrup, crystals, and finally sugar. Overall, the response fulfills the requirements of Task 1 adequately, earning a solid band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text is arranged with a clear overall progression, moving logically from the beginning of the process to the final stage. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the initial stages, and the subsequent processing steps. Cohesive devices such as 'Looking at the details', 'The sugarcane is then harvested', and 'After the juice has been purified' guide the reader smoothly through the sequence. However, referencing and transitions are occasionally somewhat mechanical. Minor lexical errors like 'undergowing' affect fluency slightly, but cohesion remains clear and logical throughout, supporting an effective flow of information.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range to describe a process, employing topic-specific terms like 'harvested', 'crushing', 'limestone filter', 'evaporator', 'syrup', 'centrifuge', and 'crystals'. There are some awkward phrasings and word choice errors, such as 'undergowing' (a typo for undergoing), 'comprises on', and the repetitive use of 'sugar cane juice'. Less common lexical items are attempted with mixed success, and occasional spelling or collocation slips occur. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main features of the diagram clearly, fitting the descriptors for Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as participial phrases ('Following the third step of crushing...') and relative clauses. There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures, notably the spelling typo 'undergowing', 'comprises on' instead of 'comprises', and 'The final stage convert' (subject-verb agreement error). Additionally, 'The sugarcane is then harvested into simpler forms' is semantically odd, as harvesting does not turn cane into simpler forms. Despite these errors, meaning is rarely impeded, and the sentence variety demonstrates an attempt at complex grammar.

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