Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-01

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 7.5)

The diagram illustrates the process of producing sugar from sugar cane, from the initial growing stage to the final drying and cooling stage.

Overall, the production of sugar involves seven main stages, beginning with the cultivation of sugar cane and ending with the drying and cooling of the extracted sugar. The process includes both mechanical and manual methods.

Initially, sugar cane is grown for approximately 12–18 months until it reaches maturity. It is then harvested either mechanically using a harvesting machine or manually by workers cutting the canes. In the third stage, the harvested sugar cane is crushed in a mill, which separates the juice from the solid cane.

Next, the extracted juice is purified using a limestone filter. The purified liquid then enters an evaporator, where it is heated and a significant amount of water is removed, turning the juice into a thick syrup. In the sixth stage, the syrup is placed in a centrifuge, which separates the sugar crystals from the remaining syrup.

Finally, the separated sugar crystals undergo drying and cooling in a large container. The finished product is then obtained as dry sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear and well-developed summary of the sugar manufacturing process. The overview clearly highlights the seven main stages and the inclusion of both mechanical and manual methods, which sets up the report nicely. The student selects and reports the main features accurately, moving logically from the initial growing and harvesting stages down to crushing, purifying, evaporating, centrifuging, and final drying and cooling. Information is fully grounded in the visual data with no inaccuracies. To achieve the highest band, the summary could push slightly further by integrating even more seamless comparisons or highlighting subtle interrelationships between consecutive stages, though the current response fully satisfies the criteria for this level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped logically by stages, with each paragraph building smoothly on the previous one. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'In the third stage', 'Next', and 'Finally' are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the linear process without feeling mechanical. Paragraphing is managed very well, with an introductory statement, a clear overall summary, and well-structured body paragraphs detailing the specific steps of production. Referencing is consistently clear, ensuring the description of the manufacturing flow remains easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, demonstrating an appropriate academic tone for describing a technical process. Less common lexical items such as 'cultivation', 'maturity', 'mechanically', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge' are integrated naturally and accurately. Word choice and collocation are generally strong, as seen in expressions like 'extracts the juice', 'limestone filter', and 'sugar crystals'. There are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To reach an even higher level, the student could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic phrasing, such as 'converts into a concentrated syrup' or 'spinning mechanism', to further elevate the stylistic range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide variety of complex sentence structures and maintains good control over grammar and punctuation. Frequent error-free sentences are present throughout the text, featuring well-managed passive constructions (e.g., 'sugar cane is grown', 'is purified using', 'is placed in a centrifuge') which are vital for descriptive process tasks. Subordinate clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'beginning with the cultivation', 'until it reaches maturity') are handled with accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and items in a list. Only a few minor slips might persist, but overall syntactic control remains strong and transparent.

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