Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-09

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 flow chart provides valuable information about the manufacturing process for extracting sugar from sugar cane.

Overall, the diagram elaborates each steps with brief description on how to complete sugar production process from its raw ingredients.

At first, young plant of sugar cane must be planted under the soil at moderate temperature. Then a specific time indicated 12-18 months have to be maintained for the sapling to attain the maturity. After that, harvesting process initiated through by efficient man-power or being separated by extractor. Secondly the crushing process must be accomplished in relation to the sorting process which ultimately covert it to juicy form. Thirdly it will be driven to the limestone filter medium for making it more even & removing all the insignifacnt components. Furthermore, the juice has been heated under a furnace for transforming to syrup and eradicating all inorganic materials from it. Finally it has been delivered to a centrifugal system which segragates the sugar crystals from syrup and after drying and cooling it makes

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as sugar production and include several key stages, including the 12–18-month growing period, harvesting, crushing, filtering, heating, centrifuging, and drying/cooling. However, the overview is vague: it does not clearly summarise the linear sequence from cane to finished sugar. Some details are unsupported or inaccurate, such as planting “under the soil at moderate temperature,” describing harvesting as “man-power” or an “extractor,” and saying crushing involves “sorting.” The final sentence is also unfinished, so the outcome of drying and cooling is not clearly reported. To strengthen the response, describe only what the diagram shows and give a concise overview of the complete process, including the separation of crystals from syrup and the final sugar product.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence, moving from growing through harvesting and processing, and words such as “At first,” “Then,” “After that,” and “Finally” help signal progression. This gives the reader an overall route through the process. However, the stages are crowded into one long paragraph, and the repeated ordinal transitions (“Secondly,” “Thirdly”) make the progression somewhat mechanical. Some links are unclear, particularly “the crushing process must be accomplished in relation to the sorting process,” and the final sentence stops before completing the idea. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and stage details, and connect each stage directly to the next with clear, accurate references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of process-related vocabulary, including “manufacturing process,” “limestone filter,” “syrup,” and “centrifugal system.” These choices show an effort to describe technical stages rather than relying only on basic words. However, several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural for this diagram: “young plant … planted under the soil,” “efficient man-power,” “sorting process,” and “more even” do not clearly convey the pictured actions. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “insignifacnt” and “segragates,” and “juicy form” is imprecise. Prefer straightforward, exact terms such as “sugar cane is harvested,” “the cane is crushed,” and “the juice is filtered.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt longer sentences and use some subordinate structures, for example, “After that, harvesting process initiated…” and “Finally it has been delivered…”. However, control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make the process difficult to follow. Examples include the missing article in “harvesting process,” the faulty construction “initiated through by,” and the agreement and structure problems in “Overall, the diagram elaborates each steps.” Tense and voice also shift awkwardly between “must be planted,” “will be driven,” and “has been heated,” although the diagram describes a general process. The final sentence is incomplete. Practise accurate present-simple passive forms, such as “The juice is heated” and “The crystals are separated,” and check each sentence for a complete clause.

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