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 illustrates the method followed by manufacturers for producing sugar from sugar cane.

The process is divided into 7 steps in total. The crop takes about 12 to 18 months to grow until it can be harvested, which is the step 2 in the process of making sugar cane. Step 3 involves crushing the raw material into a juice. The next step is focused primarily on purifying the juice extracted from the raw material, with the help of a limestone filter.

In the next step, the juice is put into a machine which is called " The Evaporator ". In the evaporator, the juice undergoes heat and converts into a syrup. Furthermore, the science of centrifugation is applied in step 6 because of which the sugar crystals are separated from the syrup. The last step involves drying and cooling of the sugar product.

In conclusion, sugar is made from sugarcane in 7 steps, starting from the initial harvesting to the drying and cooling of the sugar product.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response successfully covers all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of the sugar cane manufacturing process, from growing to the final drying and cooling. It provides a clear overview in the introduction and conclusion, satisfying the core requirements of an academic report. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While certain steps, such as the evaporator and centrifuge stages, are described with reasonable detail, others are under-developed. For instance, the harvesting stage mentions two distinct methods shown in the diagram—mechanical harvesting and manual harvesting—yet the student completely omits this visual detail, focusing only on the crop's growth duration. To reach a higher band, the response must consistently extend and report all key features and comparisons presented in the diagram without omitting significant visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression from the beginning to the end of the manufacturing process. The response is divided into logical paragraphs, including an introduction, body paragraphs that follow the chronological sequence of the diagram, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas together, such as 'In the next step', 'Furthermore', and 'The last step'. However, the use of cohesion occasionally feels somewhat mechanical or repetitive, as seen with the recurring phrase 'In the next step'. Referencing is generally clear, but transitional links between sentences could be varied more flexibly to achieve a higher band level.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a process, incorporating terms such as 'manufacturers', 'raw material', 'purifying', and 'centrifugation'. There are successful attempts to use less common lexical items, although some word choices and phrasing feel slightly awkward or informal, such as 'the science of centrifugation is applied'. Spelling and word choice errors are minimal and do not impede communication, allowing the reader to easily follow the technical steps of the process. To achieve a higher band score, the vocabulary range should be wider and more flexible, displaying greater precision and collocation control when describing industrial processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of successful complex structures include 'The crop takes about 12 to 18 months to grow until it can be harvested...' and '...the juice undergoes heat and converts into a syrup.' There are some minor errors in grammar and punctuation, such as unnecessary quotation marks and spacing around ' " The Evaporator " ', and occasional slight awkwardness in prepositional use. Nevertheless, these errors are infrequent and rarely impede communication, which aligns well with the characteristics of a band six performance for this criterion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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