Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-13

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 diagram shown below explains the process for making sugar from the sugar cane. It gives an account of all processes required to make sugar.

Specifically, sugarcane takes 12-18 months to grow then it is harvested by human labour and machines then it is crushed to extract the juice then it is purified by using limestone filter and juice is converted into syrup, separation of crystals takes place and then it is dryed and cooled.

Initially, sugar cane grows for 12-18 months it is then harvested by using machinery and farmers hard labour . After harvesting, the sugar cane is crushed to obtain juice. The juice extracted is then purified by using a limestone filter. After this the process of evaporation occurs in which juice is heated in a container to convert it into the syrup. The syrup is then passed through a centrifuge which separates sugar crystals from syrup. These crystals are then dryed and cooled. After cooling, sugar is ready for use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main stages in the correct order, from the 12–18-month growing period through harvesting, crushing, purification, evaporation, centrifuging, and drying and cooling. You also include relevant details such as the limestone filter and the separation of crystals. However, the account is largely a list of steps rather than a clear overview of the process’s main features. The harvesting stage is described as involving “human labour and machines,” but the diagram specifically shows a person harvesting by hand and a mechanical harvester; this distinction could be clearer. The final statement that sugar is “ready for use” is not shown in the diagram. To strengthen the response, give a concise overview of the process and report only details supported by the visual.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in a generally logical sequence, and words such as “Initially,” “After harvesting,” and “After this” help the reader follow the process. The response also separates its opening summary from the more detailed account. However, the first two sentences repeat the same general information, and the second paragraph largely restates the sequence already given in the first. Several stages are joined in one long sentence with repeated “then,” which makes the opening summary feel crowded. Organise the response into a brief overview followed by a more focused description of the stages, and use a wider range of clear links between steps. This would make the progression more controlled and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “crushed,” “extract the juice,” “limestone filter,” “evaporation,” and “centrifuge,” so the reader can understand the production stages. However, the range is somewhat repetitive, particularly with repeated uses of “process,” “then,” and “sugar cane.” Some word choices and collocations are awkward: “farmers hard labour” is not a natural way to describe the harvesting method, and “the process of evaporation occurs” is unnecessarily wordy. The spelling “dryed” is also incorrect. Aim for more precise, natural phrasing and check spelling; for example, use “harvested by hand or mechanically” and “the juice is evaporated.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response communicates the sequence using both simple sentences and some longer structures, including “The syrup is then passed through a centrifuge which separates sugar crystals from syrup.” However, control is uneven in the longer sentences. The opening summary joins several stages with repeated “then” and lacks clear punctuation, while “Initially, sugar cane grows for 12-18 months it is then harvested” contains two clauses that need to be separated or linked correctly. There are also spacing and punctuation problems, such as the space before the full stop after “labour.” Use full stops or conjunctions to manage each stage clearly, and review sentence boundaries and punctuation. More consistently controlled complex sentences would improve accuracy.

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