Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-08

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)

The illustration presents the procedure of transforming sugarcane into sugar.

The manufacturing of sugar cane is a 7 step process in which sugar cane is cultivated in fields then harvested and crushed before being processed to make sugar.

In the first step sugar cane is grown in fields, when it is fully grown it is then harvested using manpower and harvesting machinery. The harvested sugar cane is then placed into a machine that crushes the sugar cane and produces a juice as a product.

The juice produced is then passed through a limestone filter in the fourth step to remove any impurities from the juice. The purified liquid is then transferred to a evaporater that heats up the juice tranforming it into a thick syrup. In the sixth step, the syrup goes thgrough a centrifuge that spins the syrup separating sugar crystals from the syrup then comes the last stage , The sugar is placed in a container for drying and cooling.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main stages in the correct order, from growing and harvesting through crushing, filtering, evaporation, centrifuging, and drying and cooling. You also include the key detail that harvesting can be done by machinery or by hand, and explain the purpose of the centrifuge. However, the overview is limited: the second sentence mainly repeats the sequence rather than highlighting the process’s overall progression from cane to extracted sugar. Some details are imprecise or missing, including the 12–18-month growing period and the fact that the final product is sugar crystals separated from syrup. The phrase “manufacturing of sugar cane” also confuses the crop with the product. A clearer overview and more precise reporting of these features would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The stages are presented in a generally logical sequence, and phrases such as “In the first step,” “in the fourth step,” and “In the sixth step” help readers follow the process. The response also moves from an introduction to the stages without going off topic. However, the information is placed in one continuous block, so the introduction and process description are not clearly separated into paragraphs. Some links between stages are repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “then,” and the final sentence joins several actions together, making the progression less clear. Use paragraphing to distinguish the overview from the detailed stages, and vary linking expressions while keeping each stage easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “limestone filter,” “evaporator,” “centrifuge,” and “sugar crystals,” which helps communicate the technical sequence. There is also some useful variation in describing the material, such as “juice,” “purified liquid,” and “syrup.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or awkward: “manufacturing of sugar cane” suggests the cane itself is manufactured, while “a product” is vague in this context. Spelling errors such as “evaporater,” “tranforming,” and “thgrough” are noticeable, and “placed into a machine” is less precise than describing the cane as being fed into a crusher. Check spelling carefully and choose process terms that identify the material and its transformation precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both straightforward sentences and attempts at more complex structures, for example, “The juice produced is then passed through a limestone filter … to remove any impurities.” Most of the process remains understandable, but some sentence structures and punctuation are not controlled consistently. The opening of the third sentence, “In the first step sugar cane is grown in fields, when it is fully grown…,” joins two clauses with a comma; separate them or use a suitable conjunction. The final sentence also runs several actions together, and “a evaporater” has an article error. Capitalisation after the comma in “stage , The sugar” is incorrect. Use full stops to control long sequences and check articles, clause boundaries, and punctuation.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.