Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-05

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 5.5)

This diagram illustrates the making process of sugar from sugar cane.

Firstly the farmers grow the crops that is the main and important element in this process. To grow the crop it take alomost 12 to 18 months to grow properly. Then farmers do harvesting. Harvesting can be done by two methods. First by hand and other method is by machine. Then crushing of sugar cane is done while crushing the juice of sugar cane came. Then the juice is purified in limestone filter. Purification is very important to remove the impurities from juice. Then juice is transfered to eveporator where it is placed on heat and juices converted into syrup. After that centrifuge process take place it means the sugar crystals seprated from syrups. At the end sugar take for drying and cooling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main stages in the correct order, including the 12–18-month growing period, the two harvesting methods, crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifuging, and final drying and cooling. However, the response mainly lists steps rather than giving a clear overview of the process as a whole, and some explanations are limited—for example, the limestone filter is mentioned but its role is not clearly summarised. The response is also 16 words below the required minimum, which restricts how fully you can report the key features. To strengthen the response, add a concise overview noting that this is a linear process that turns harvested cane into sugar, then develop the stages with accurate detail.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in a generally logical sequence, and words such as “Firstly,” “Then,” “After that,” and “At the end” help the reader follow the process. However, the response is one continuous paragraph, so the stages are not grouped into clear sections, and the repeated use of “Then” makes the progression somewhat mechanical. Some links between ideas are also awkward, such as “Then crushing of sugar cane is done while crushing the juice of sugar cane came.” Organise the response into an introduction and overview, followed by logically grouped process stages, and use a wider range of accurate transitions. This would make the progression clearer and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “harvesting,” “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” “syrup,” and “centrifuge,” which allows the reader to recognise the main equipment and stages. However, the range is limited and some word choices or forms are inaccurate, such as “making process,” “the main and important element,” and “sugar take for drying and cooling.” Spelling errors—including “alomost,” “eveporator,” “transfered,” and “seprated”—also make the writing less precise. Aim for concise, natural process language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe juice as being “filtered” and sugar crystals as being “separated from the remaining syrup.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the sequence mainly through simple sentences and attempts a few longer structures, but the grammatical range is limited and errors occur frequently. Examples include “the crops that is,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect, and “it take alomost 12 to 18 months,” where the verb form is faulty. In “the juice of sugar cane came,” the tense does not fit the process description, while “juice is transfered” and “sugar crystals seprated” lack accurate verb forms. These errors sometimes make relationships between actions unclear. Practise consistent present-simple passive forms for process descriptions, such as “the juice is purified” and “the crystals are separated,” alongside accurate agreement and sentence boundaries.

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

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