The Task
The diagram below shows the manufacture of sugar from sugar cane.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
1How many stages? Name them.
The diagram has 8 stages. It is a man-made process shown as a linear sequence: sugar cane is grown and harvested, then turned into juice, syrup and finally sugar crystals.
Phase 1 – Growing and extracting juice (Stages 1–4)
- 1GrowingSugar cane grows for 12–18 months.
- 2HarvestingThe cane is cut by hand or by machine.
- 3CrushingThe cane is crushed to get juice.
- 4PurifyingThe juice is cleaned with a limestone filter.
Phase 2 – Turning juice into sugar (Stages 5–8)
- 5EvaporatingThe juice is heated and becomes syrup.
- 6SeparatingA centrifuge separates sugar crystals from the syrup.
- 7Drying and coolingThe crystals are dried and cooled.
- 8PackingThe sugar is packed into bags.
3Sentence Formulas
The structure behind each Band 6.5 sentence. Change the band on the left to see another level.
| Stage | Band 4.5 formula |
|---|---|
| 1 Growing | First + N + is + V3 + for + time |
| 2 Harvesting | Next + N + is + V3 + by + N or by + N |
| 3 Crushing | Then + N + is + V3 + to + get + the + N |
| 4 Purifying | After that + the + N + is + V3 + with a + N + N |
| 5 Evaporating | In the second part + the + adj + N + is + V3, and + it + becomes + a + adj + N |
| 6 Separating | Next + the + N + is + V3 + into a + N, and + N + N + are + V3 + from + it |
| 7 Drying and cooling | After that + the + N + N + are + V3 and V3 |
| 8 Packing | Finally + the + N + is + V3 + into + N |
| Stage | Band 5.5 formula |
|---|---|
| 1 Growing | To begin with + N + is + V3 + for a period of + time |
| 2 Harvesting | Next + N + is + V3 + either + by + N + or + by + N |
| 3 Crushing | After that + N + is + V3 + in a + N, and + the + N + is + V3 |
| 4 Purifying | Next + the + N + is + V3 + by + passing it through + a + N + N |
| 5 Evaporating | In the second stage + the + adj + N + is + V3 + in an + N + until + it + becomes + a + N |
| 6 Separating | After that + the + N + is + V3 + into a + N, which + separates + the + N + N + from the + N |
| 7 Drying and cooling | Then + the + N + N + are + V3 and V3 |
| 8 Packing | Finally + the + N + is + V3 + into + N |
| Stage | Band 6.5 formula |
|---|---|
| 1 Growing | The process begins with + N + being + V3 + for between + number + and + time |
| 2 Harvesting | Once + adj + N + is + precise V3, either + adverb + or + by + N |
| 3 Crushing | Following this + N + is + V3 + in order to + extract + the + N |
| 4 Purifying | S + is then + precise V3 + by + passing it through + a + N + N |
| 5 Evaporating | Turning to the second phase + the + V3-adj + N + is + V3 + in an + N, where + it + turns into + N |
| 6 Separating | Next + the + N + is + V3 + into a + N, which + separates + the + N + N + from the + N |
| 7 Drying and cooling | After this + the + N + are + V3 and V3 |
| 8 Packing | In the final stage + the + adj + N + is + V3 + into + N |
| Stage | Band 7.5 formula |
|---|---|
| 1 Growing | The process commences with + the + N + of + N, which + takes + time + to reach + N |
| 2 Harvesting | Once + adj + N + is + V3, a task which can be + V3 + either + adverb + or + adverb |
| 3 Crushing | S + is then + V3 + so that + the + N + can be + V3 |
| 4 Purifying | This + N + is subsequently + V3 + by means of + a + N + N |
| 5 Evaporating | Turning to the second phase + the + V3-adj + N + is + V3 + in an + N, thereby + V-ing + it + into + N |
| 6 Separating | S + is then + V3 + to a + N, in which + the + N + N + are + V3 + from the + adj + N |
| 7 Drying and cooling | Once + V3 + the + N + undergo + N-ing and N-ing |
| 8 Packing | Finally + the + adj + N + is + V3 + in + N, which + completes + the + N |
4Linkers – Sequencing Words & Transitions
Use a different linker for each stage – never “Then … Then … Then”. These are the linkers for Band 6.5.
Beginning
- First
Next step
- Next
- Then
- After that
Ending
- Finally
Joining
- … and + V3 (are taken out and put …)
- to + V (to make)
Beginning
- To begin with
- First of all
Next step
- After that / After this
- Next
- Then
Change of place / phase
- In the second stage, …
- In the factory, …
Ending
- Finally
Joining
- …, and then …
- … called + N
Beginning
- The process begins when …
- The process begins with + N
Next step
- Following this
- Subsequently
- Next
Time clauses
- Once + adj (Once dry, …)
- After + N (After fermentation, …)
Inside a stage
- …, where + clause
- …, which + verb
- … known as + N
- …, a stage which lasts …
Change of phase
- Turning to the … stage, …
Ending
- In the final stage
Beginning
- The process commences with + the + N of + N
Time
- Once + V3 (Once extracted, …)
- Following + N (Following roasting, …)
Next step
- Subsequently
- To complete the … phase, …
Result phrases
- …, leaving only + N
- …, producing + N
- …, resulting in + N
Naming
- … referred to as + N
- … ranging from X to Y
Ending
- In the final stage
- … culminating in + N
5Translation Practice – Vietnamese → English
Translate each sentence into English. The word in ( ) is the key word you must use. Check the Tense note, write your answer, then press Show answer.
Band 4.5 – 8 sentences
Đầu tiên, mía được trồng (is grown) trong 12 đến 18 tháng.
Tiếp theo, mía được cắt (is cut) bằng tay hoặc bằng máy.
Sau đó, mía được ép (is crushed) để lấy nước.
Sau đó, nước mía được làm sạch (is cleaned) bằng một bộ lọc đá vôi.
Ở phần thứ hai, nước mía sạch được đun nóng (is heated), và nó trở thành xi-rô đặc.
Tiếp theo, xi-rô được cho vào máy ly tâm, và tinh thể đường được tách (are separated) ra khỏi nó.
Sau đó, tinh thể đường được sấy khô và làm nguội (cooled).
Cuối cùng, đường được cho (is put) vào túi.
Band 5.5 – 8 sentences
Trước tiên, mía được trồng trong một khoảng thời gian (a period of) 12 đến 18 tháng.
Tiếp theo, mía được thu hoạch (is harvested) bằng tay hoặc bằng máy.
Sau đó, mía được nghiền trong một cái máy, và nước mía được thu lại (is collected).
Tiếp theo, nước mía được làm sạch bằng cách cho nó đi qua (passing it through) bộ lọc đá vôi.
Ở giai đoạn thứ hai, nước mía sạch được đun trong thiết bị bay hơi cho đến khi (until) nó trở thành xi-rô.
Sau đó, xi-rô được cho vào máy ly tâm, máy này (which) tách tinh thể đường ra khỏi xi-rô.
Sau đó, tinh thể đường được sấy khô và làm nguội (cooled).
Cuối cùng, đường được đóng gói (is packed) vào túi.
Band 6.5 – 8 sentences
Quy trình bắt đầu với việc mía được trồng (being grown) trong khoảng từ 12 đến 18 tháng.
Khi đã trưởng thành, mía được thu hoạch, hoặc bằng tay (manually) hoặc bằng máy.
Tiếp sau đó, mía được nghiền nhằm chiết xuất (extract) nước mía.
Nước mía sau đó được tinh lọc (purified) bằng cách cho đi qua bộ lọc đá vôi.
Chuyển sang giai đoạn thứ hai, nước mía đã tinh lọc được đun trong thiết bị bay hơi, nơi (where) nó biến thành xi-rô.
Tiếp theo, xi-rô được rót (poured) vào máy ly tâm, máy này tách tinh thể đường ra khỏi chất lỏng.
Sau bước này, các tinh thể được sấy khô và làm nguội (cooled).
Ở giai đoạn cuối, đường thành phẩm (finished) được đóng vào túi.
Band 7.5 – 8 sentences
Quy trình bắt đầu với việc trồng (cultivation) mía, mất từ 12 đến 18 tháng để trưởng thành.
Khi đã trưởng thành, mía được thu hoạch, công việc này có thể được thực hiện (carried out) bằng tay hoặc bằng máy.
Mía đã thu hoạch sau đó được nghiền để nước mía có thể được chiết xuất (can be extracted).
Nước mía này sau đó được tinh lọc bằng (by means of) một bộ lọc đá vôi.
Chuyển sang giai đoạn thứ hai, nước mía đã tinh lọc được đun trong thiết bị bay hơi, nhờ đó (thereby) biến nó thành xi-rô.
Xi-rô sau đó được chuyển (transferred) vào máy ly tâm, trong đó tinh thể đường được tách khỏi phần chất lỏng còn lại.
Một khi đã được tách, các tinh thể trải qua (undergo) quá trình sấy khô và làm nguội.
Cuối cùng, thành phẩm được đóng gói trong túi, việc này hoàn tất (completes) quy trình.
6Linker Practice
Part A: drag (or tap) the linkers into the gaps. Part B: translate using the linker in ( ).
Part A – Band 4.5 linkers (8 sentences)
Computer: drag a linker into a gap. Phone: tap a linker, then tap a gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
- , sugar cane is grown for 12 to 18 months.
- The cane is cut by hand by machine.
- The cane is crushed get the juice.
- The juice is cleaned a limestone filter.
- the second part, the clean juice is heated.
- The syrup is put a centrifuge.
- The sugar crystals are dried cooled.
- , the sugar is put into bags.
Part B – Translate with Band 4.5 linkers (5 sentences)
Use the linker in ( ) and follow the Tense note.
Đầu tiên (First), mía được trồng trong 12 đến 18 tháng.
Tiếp theo (Next), mía được cắt bằng tay hoặc bằng máy.
Sau đó (Then), mía được ép để lấy nước.
Sau đó (After that), nước mía được làm sạch.
Cuối cùng (Finally), đường được cho vào túi.
Part A – Band 5.5 linkers (8 sentences)
Computer: drag a linker into a gap. Phone: tap a linker, then tap a gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
- , sugar cane is grown.
- It is grown for a period 12 to 18 months.
- The cane is harvested by hand or by machine.
- The juice is cleaned passing it through a filter.
- The juice is heated it becomes a syrup.
- The syrup is put into a centrifuge, separates the crystals.
- , the crystals are dried and cooled.
- , the sugar is packed into bags.
Part B – Translate with Band 5.5 linkers (5 sentences)
Use the linker in ( ) and follow the Tense note.
Trước tiên (To begin with), mía được trồng.
Mía được thu hoạch hoặc (either) bằng tay hoặc bằng máy.
Nước mía được làm sạch bằng cách (by) cho nó qua bộ lọc.
Nước mía được đun cho đến khi (until) nó thành xi-rô.
Xi-rô được cho vào máy ly tâm, máy này (which) tách tinh thể.
Part A – Band 6.5 linkers (8 sentences)
Computer: drag a linker into a gap. Phone: tap a linker, then tap a gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
- The process begins sugar cane being grown.
- mature, the cane is harvested.
- The cane is crushed in to extract the juice.
- The juice is purified by passing it a limestone filter.
- The juice is heated in an evaporator, it turns into syrup.
- The centrifuge separates the crystals the liquid.
- this, the crystals are dried and cooled.
- , the finished sugar is packed into bags.
Part B – Translate with Band 6.5 linkers (5 sentences)
Use the linker in ( ) and follow the Tense note.
Quy trình bắt đầu với việc (begins with) mía được trồng.
Khi đã (Once) trưởng thành, mía được thu hoạch.
Mía được nghiền nhằm (in order to) chiết xuất nước.
Nước mía được đun trong thiết bị, nơi (where) nó biến thành xi-rô.
Chuyển sang (Turning to) giai đoạn thứ hai, nước mía được đun nóng.
Part A – Band 7.5 linkers (8 sentences)
Computer: drag a linker into a gap. Phone: tap a linker, then tap a gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
- The process commences with the of sugar cane.
- The cane takes 12 to 18 months to reach .
- Harvesting can be carried out either manually or .
- The cane is crushed so that the juice can be .
- The juice is purified by of a limestone filter.
- The juice is heated, turning it into a syrup.
- The syrup is transferred to a centrifuge, in the crystals are separated.
- The product is packaged in bags, which the process.
Part B – Translate with Band 7.5 linkers (5 sentences)
Use the linker in ( ) and follow the Tense note.
Quy trình bắt đầu với việc trồng (the cultivation of) mía.
Mía được nghiền để (so that) nước có thể được chiết xuất.
Nước mía được tinh lọc bằng (by means of) bộ lọc đá vôi.
Nước mía được đun, nhờ đó (thereby) biến thành xi-rô.
Một khi đã tách (Once separated), các tinh thể được sấy khô.
7Introduction – Paraphrasing the Task
Paraphrase the task sentence. The column of your band is highlighted.
| Task words | Band 4.5 | Band 5.5 | Band 6.5 | Band 7.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The diagram below shows | The diagram shows | The diagram illustrates | The diagram illustrates | The given diagram depicts |
| the manufacture of sugar | how sugar is made | the process of making sugar | the various stages in the production of sugar | the sequence of stages involved in manufacturing sugar |
| from sugar cane | from sugar cane | from sugar cane | from sugar cane | from sugar cane |
| from growing the plant to packing the final product | from the cultivation of the plant to the packaging of the finished product |
The diagram shows how sugar is made from sugar cane.
Band 4.5: changes “the manufacture of sugar” into “how sugar is made” – simple and correct.
The diagram illustrates the process of making sugar from sugar cane.
Band 5.5: a common reporting verb (illustrates) and a noun phrase (the process of making).
The diagram illustrates the various stages in the production of sugar from sugar cane, from growing the plant to packing the final product.
Band 6.5: nominalisation (the production of) and a clear “from … to …” covering the whole process.
The given diagram depicts the sequence of stages involved in manufacturing sugar from sugar cane, from the cultivation of the plant to the packaging of the finished product.
Band 7.5: precise verb (depicts), a complex noun phrase and accurate nominalisation (the cultivation of the plant, the packaging of the finished product).
The diagram shows / illustrates / depicts how sugar is made / the production of sugar from sugar cane, from growing the plant to packing the final product.
8Overview
An overview gives the number of stages and the start and end; higher bands add the two main phases in more precise language. No details (no “12–18 months”, “limestone” or “centrifuge”).
Band 4.5 formula
Overall, there are eight steps in this process. It starts with growing sugar cane and finishes with putting sugar into bags.
Why Band 4.5: Two short simple sentences, basic words (steps, starts, finishes), no phases.
Band 5.5 formula
Overall, there are eight stages in the process. In the first four stages, the cane is grown and its juice is taken out, and in the last four stages, the juice is changed into sugar. The main changes are from cane to juice, then to syrup and finally to sugar crystals.
Why Band 5.5: Names the two parts in simple words; begins with … ends with …; no numbers or details.
Band 6.5 formula
Overall, the process consists of eight stages, which can be divided into two main phases: growing the cane and extracting its juice, and then turning the juice into sugar. During the process, the cane is converted into juice, syrup and finally sugar crystals.
Why Band 6.5: A which-clause divides the stages into two phases; nominal phrases (the harvesting of, the production of).
Band 7.5 formula
Overall, sugar production involves eight distinct stages, which fall into two main phases – the cultivation and processing of the cane, followed by the conversion of its juice into sugar – with the raw material changing form from cane to juice, syrup and ultimately sugar crystals.
Why Band 7.5: comprises · distinct · fall into · dashes for the phases · commencing with … culminating in … in ONE sentence.
9Writing Practice
Essay plan: Introduction → Overview → Body 1: Stages 1–4 (Growing and extracting juice) → Body 2: Stages 5–8 (Turning juice into sugar). Your writing is saved on this device.
Exercise 1 – Match the paraphrase
Choose the best synonym for each word from the task.
- shows →
- manufacture →
- grow →
- clean →
- final product →
Exercise 2 – Choose the best Overview
Which sentence is a good overview?
Exercise 3 – Complete Body 1 (Band 4.5)
Type ONE word in each gap. Look at the diagram for the details.
First, sugar cane for 12 to 18 months. Next, the cane is cut by or by machine. Then, the cane is to get the juice. After that, the juice is cleaned with a limestone .
Exercise 4 – Put Body 2 in order (Band 4.5)
Choose 1–6 for each sentence.
Exercise 3 – Complete Body 1 (Band 5.5)
Type ONE word in each gap. Look at the diagram for the details.
To begin with, sugar cane is grown for a of 12 to 18 months. Next, the cane is either by hand or by machine. After that, the cane is crushed in a machine, and the juice is . Next, the juice is cleaned by it through a limestone filter.
Exercise 4 – Put Body 2 in order (Band 5.5)
Choose 1–4 for each sentence.
Exercise 3 – Complete Body 1 (Band 6.5)
Type ONE word in each gap. Look at the diagram for the details.
The process begins with sugar cane being grown for 12 and 18 months. Once mature, the cane is harvested, either or by machine. Following this, the cane is crushed in order to the juice. The juice is then by passing it through a limestone filter.
Exercise 4 – Put Body 2 in order (Band 6.5)
Choose 1–4 for each sentence.
Exercise 3 – Complete Body 1 (Band 7.5)
Type ONE word in each gap. Look at the diagram for the details.
The process commences with the of sugar cane, which takes between 12 and 18 months to reach . Once mature, the cane is harvested, a task which can be carried out either manually or . The harvested cane is then crushed so that the juice can be . This juice is subsequently purified by means of a limestone filter.
Exercise 4 – Put Body 2 in order (Band 7.5)
Choose 1–4 for each sentence.
Write your essay – paragraph by paragraph
Use the Band 6.5 formulas, linkers and samples from Steps 3–8. Check the Band Standard on the left before you write.
Exercise 5 – Introduction
One sentence. Paraphrase the task (Step 7).
Words: 0 (about 20–30 words)
Exercise 6 – Overview
Use the formula for your band (Step 8).
Words: 0 (about 25–45 words)
Exercise 7 – Body 1 (Stages 1–4)
Write the stages in order with a different linker for each.
Words: 0 (about 55–75 words)
Exercise 8 – Body 2 (Stages 5–8)
Start with a phase change (In the factory / Turning to …).
Words: 0 (about 50–70 words)
Exercise 9 – Your full essay
Press “Collect my paragraphs”, then edit them into one essay and compare with the model.
Words: 0 (minimum 150)
Model Answer 6.5
Write your own essay first, then compare. Highlighted = key collocations to learn.