Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The diagram illustrate the manufacturing process making sugar from the sugar cane.

Overall,Making sugar from Sugar cane there is 7 main stage of Sugar take main process or growing beacuse they has taked longer time periods 12 to 18 months.

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 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by successfully summarizing the main stages of the sugar cane manufacturing process. It provides a clear overview mentioning the seven main stages and the lengthy growing period of 12 to 18 months, which meets the requirements for a well-structured summary. Key features such as harvesting methods, crushing, filtering, evaporation, centrifugation, and drying are accurately reported in logical sequence. However, some parts of the description are slightly unevenly developed; for instance, the opening overview sentence contains awkward phrasing ('The diagram illustrate the manufacturing process making sugar from the sugar cane'), and the second sentence of the overview is extremely clunky and repetitive ('Making sugar from Sugar cane there is 7 main stage of Sugar take main process or growing beacuse they has taked longer time periods'). This keeps the response from achieving a higher band, as the development of ideas in the overview lacks absolute clarity and polish.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear, logical progression through the steps of the manufacturing process. The text is divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with an introduction and overview, moving into the initial stages, and concluding with the final steps. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the sequence, such as 'Initially', 'In the third stage', 'Next', and 'Finally'. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty, particularly in the introduction and overview section where referencing and transitions are clumsy (e.g., 'Making sugar from Sugar cane there is 7 main stage of Sugar take main process...'). Furthermore, paragraphing could be slightly better controlled to separate the introduction from the overview sentence cleanly. Despite these minor flaws, the progression of information remains generally clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully attempting less common items related to industrial processes, such as 'maturity', 'mechanically', 'manually', 'extracted', 'evaporator', 'centrifuge', and 'crystals'. However, there are noticeable errors in word choice, word formation, and expression, particularly in the opening sentences where terms are misused or awkwardly constructed (e.g., 'manufacturing process making', 'take main process', 'taked longer time periods'). Spelling and lexical control improve significantly in the main body paragraphs, but the presence of these early inaccuracies and occasional awkward collocations prevents the vocabulary score from reaching a higher level. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main features of the diagram clearly without impeding overall understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and participial phrases alongside straightforward statements (e.g., 'It is then harvested either mechanically using a harvesting machine or manually by workers cutting the canes'). There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly evident in the flawed structure of the opening sentence ('The diagram illustrate') and the ungrammatical second sentence ('beacuse they has taked longer time periods'). Nevertheless, the majority of the sentences in the body paragraphs are grammatically sound and control tense and voice reasonably well (using the present passive voice appropriately for a process description, such as 'is grown', 'is purified', and 'is heated'). These errors are minor and rarely impede communication, reflecting a solid control of basic and intermediate grammatical structures.

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