Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-29

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 process demonstrates the stages involved in producing sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, the process consists of seven stages, beginning with growing the sugar canes in the field and ending with drying and cooling of sugar for end users.

Initially, the sugar canes are grown on the farm for 12 to 18 months. After the sugar canes are completely grown in the field, the sugar canes are harvested. After that, the harvested sugar canes are transported forward to the crushing process, the juice of sugar canes is collected in a container while crushing. Afterwards, the juice is purified with the help of limestone filter.

In the next stage, the filtered juice is evaporated by heating process, the juice becomes syrup because of the heat. Following this, the syrup is centrifuged, where the sugar crystals are separated from syrup. Lastly, the sugar crystals are gathered in a container, then drying and cooling the sugar for use it in different products.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by reporting the main stages of the sugar cane manufacturing process, from growing to drying and cooling. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, outlining the total number of steps and the overall beginning and end points. Key features such as the two harvesting methods (manual and mechanical) and the limestone filtration are mentioned, though some minor details like the two distinct harvesting options could have been slightly better integrated into the sequential flow. Overall, the response is accurate against the provided visual data and fulfills the requirements of Task Achievement at a Band 7.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response exhibits clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped chronologically into appropriate paragraphs, moving smoothly from cultivation and harvesting to crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifugation, and finally drying and cooling. A variety of cohesive devices are employed to signal transitions, such as 'Initially', 'After that', 'Afterwards', 'In the next stage', and 'Lastly'. While paragraphing and logical sequencing are effective, referencing is occasionally repetitive, with phrases like 'the sugar canes' and 'the juice' repeated closely. Nevertheless, cohesion is well managed, supporting a solid Band 7.0 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a process diagram, incorporating process-specific terms such as 'harvested', 'transported forward', 'crushing', 'purified', 'evaporated', and 'centrifuged'. However, there are some instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'for use it in different products' and unnecessary repetition of nouns ('the sugar canes are grown... the sugar canes are harvested'). Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style, but occasional inaccuracies keep this criterion firmly at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer successfully uses passive structures appropriate for a process description, such as 'are grown', 'are harvested', and 'are separated'. However, there are some minor grammatical slips and punctuation issues, including a comma splice in the third paragraph ('...crushing process, the juice of sugar canes is collected...') and a non-standard infinitive phrase ('for use it in different products'). The majority of sentences are understandable and communication is not impeded, placing the grammar at a Band 6.0 level.

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