Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-06

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 pictorial representations features the process for extracring sugar from sugar canes in steps.

Overall, it is evident that it involves seven steps from growing the sugar cane to drying and cooling. It also involves a lot of industrial and chemical processes. The step that takes the longest is the growing of the sugar canes.

Taking a quick glance, it is evident that the process is started by growing the sugar canes which takes about 12 to 18 months. After they are grown they are then harvested either by a machine or by hand. The sugar canes are then sent for crushing where they are crushed by a machine to extract their juice. The next step involves purifying the juice by passing it through a limestone filter.

Moving along, the purified juice is put into an evaporater where it is heated to turn it into a syrup. The sugar crysrtals are then separated from the syrup with the help of a centrifuge. They are then put into a container for drying and cooling and after that is finished only sugar is left in it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response covers the full sequence and gives a clear overview: it identifies seven stages, from growing to drying and cooling, and correctly notes the 12–18-month growing period and the two harvesting methods. The main transformations are also reported, including crushing for juice, evaporation into syrup, and separation in a centrifuge. This is a solid account of the diagram, though some details are less fully explained. For example, the overview’s reference to “industrial and chemical processes” is broad, and the final stage could be described more precisely as drying and cooling the separated sugar crystals. To strengthen the report further, make the overview more informative by highlighting the progression from cane to juice, syrup, crystals, and finished sugar.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear sequence: an introduction and overview are followed by the early stages and then the later stages. Paragraphing supports this progression, and linking phrases such as “After they are grown,” “The next step,” and “Moving along” help guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions are formulaic, particularly “Taking a quick glance” and “Moving along,” and the repeated use of “then” makes parts of the account feel mechanical. The final sentence also combines drying, cooling, and the result in a slightly loose way. Use more precise stage-to-stage links and vary how you refer to the cane, juice, syrup, and crystals to make the cohesion smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing the process, with relevant terms such as “harvested,” “crushing,” “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” and “centrifuge.” The writer also uses process language such as “separated” and “purifying,” which helps convey the stages. However, some choices are imprecise or informal: “pictorial representations” is an awkward way to introduce a diagram, and “a lot of industrial and chemical processes” is vague. There are also spelling errors in “extracring,” “evaporater,” and “crysrtals,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for concise, conventional process vocabulary and check spelling carefully; more precise verbs for each transformation would make the description clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which takes about 12 to 18 months” and passive constructions such as “are then harvested” and “are then put into a container.” Most stages remain understandable, and the sequence is generally expressed clearly. Some grammatical control is less secure, however. In “The pictorial representations features,” the plural subject does not agree with the singular verb; “the process is started by growing” is an awkward passive construction; and “after that is finished only sugar is left in it” has unclear reference and punctuation. Review subject–verb agreement, sentence boundaries, and pronoun reference, while retaining the useful range of passive forms.

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