Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-28

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 chart shows the pathway process of creating sugar from sugarcane through various steps.

Overall, the process is simple and constains seven elaborate steps. The process starts with growing and harvesting sugarcane which is processed to form sugar crystals ready to be packed.

Firstly, the process starts with growing the sugar canes for 12 to 18 months, once these sugarcanes are at the right stage they are harvested. The harvesting is done through two methods; through a cutting tractor and by hand.

Additionally, once the harvesting is done, the sugarcanes are passed through a crusher. This crusher is fed the sugar canes through one end and the juices are collected through another end. Furthermore,the collected juices are passed through a lmestone purifier to remove any impurities. Then, the purfied juices are boiled in a seperate chamber that is heated to help in the vapourization of all the water content, thus the end product in this step is a sugarcane syrup.

Subsequently, the sugarcane syrup is passed through a centrifuge step to help seperate the sugar crystal from the syrup which are then collected in a seperate chamber for cooling and drying to achieve the desired sugar crystal in pure form.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by summarising the linear manufacturing process from growing sugar cane to the final product. An appropriate overview is provided, capturing the main stages such as growing, harvesting, processing, and the final cooling and drying. Key features of the diagram are reported, including the duration of growth (12-18 months), the dual harvesting methods (by tractor and by hand), crushing, purification using a limestone filter, evaporation, and centrifugation. The information is accurate and faithfully reflects the provided visual data without significant omissions or inventions. Thus, the response meets all requirements for this criterion comfortably.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text is logically organised and presents a clear overall progression from the beginning to the end of the manufacturing process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and individual sequential stages. A variety of cohesive devices is employed to guide the reader, such as 'Firstly', 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'Subsequently'. Although referencing and transitions generally work well, a few connectors feel slightly mechanical, preventing a higher score. However, logical sequencing is maintained throughout, ensuring the reader can easily follow each step of the diagram.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary adequate for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terminology such as 'manufacturing process', 'sugarcane syrup', 'limestone purifier', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge'. Less common items are attempted with some awareness of style, though there are minor spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'constains' instead of contains, 'lmestone' instead of limestone, 'purfied' instead of purified, and 'seperate' instead of separate. These occasional inaccuracies do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating the ability to handle subordinate clauses and passive constructions appropriately (e.g., 'the collected juices are passed through a limestone purifier'). There are several grammatical and mechanical errors, including spelling mistakes ('constains', 'seperate') and a run-on sentence structure in the final paragraph ('...separating the sugar crystal from the syrup which are then collected...'). Despite these occasional errors, the majority of sentences are clear and fully comprehensible, ensuring that communication is never impeded.

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