Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-04

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 process of extracting sugar from the sugar cane has been illustrated by the pictorial diagram.

Overall, it is evident that it's a mixture of natural as well as man-made process. It includes several steps and is a simple process which involves obtaining juice from the sugar canes and involves filtration and evaporation of impurities and water.

To begin with, sugar canes should grow almost 12 to 18 months before harvesting them. Harvesting can be done manually or by the machine. After completion and getting fresh batch of sugar canes from farms , now they are crushed to obtain its juice. Furthermore, the juice is passed from the limestone membrane for removing the impurities. Extracted juice is now heated so with the help of evaporation, water is evaporated and sugar syrup is obtained.

However, other major operation is involvement of centrifugal machine. This machine rotates at very speed and separates the sugar crystals from the syrup. The crystals are now left for the drying and cooling which then results in the formation of sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from harvesting to the final product. You have identified the key features, such as the growth period, crushing, purification, evaporation, and centrifugation. However, the overview is slightly weak; describing the process as a 'mixture of natural as well as man-made process' is somewhat vague. To improve, focus on summarizing the transformation from raw material to refined product. While you mention the main steps, the description of the purification process (limestone membrane) could be more precise to better reflect the diagram's technical nature. Overall, the task is addressed adequately.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the stages, which helps the reader follow the flow of information. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'However', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but there is room for more sophisticated linking between sentences to improve the flow. For instance, the transition between the evaporation stage and the centrifugation stage could be smoother to better highlight the progression of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'harvesting', 'impurities', 'evaporation', and 'centrifugal machine'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'passed from the limestone membrane' is not the most natural phrasing; 'passed through a limestone filter' would be more accurate. Additionally, 'rotates at very speed' is grammatically incorrect and lacks the necessary adjective (e.g., 'high speed'). Expanding your range to include more precise technical collocations would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For instance, 'it's a mixture of natural as well as man-made process' is missing an article ('a' process). The phrase 'passed from the limestone membrane for removing' is slightly awkward; 'to remove' would be more appropriate. There are also minor issues with article usage and preposition choice throughout the text. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score.

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