Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-05
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)
The diagram illustrates how sugar is manufactured from sugar cane and the process.
Overall, it can be clearly seen that this is linear process of making sugar from sugar cane, has 7 steps. Which starts with the farming of sugar cane and ends with drying and cooling of sugar. It is complicated process.
Initially, starts with the growing sugar cane in agricultural land for 12 to 18 months. Subsequently, farmer harvests sugar cane and sends to the sugar factory where sugar cane is crushed and the juice is extracted. In the next step, that juice is sent for the purification process into limestone filter. After filtering it purification process purified juice is sent for the heating and during this process all the water is evaporated.
In the next step, all the syrup is sent for the centrifuge machine and in this machine sugar crystals are separated from the syrup. In the last step, all the crystals is collected for the drying and cooling chamber.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from harvesting to the final drying and cooling. However, the description is somewhat superficial. While it identifies the key steps, it fails to highlight the specific inputs or outputs at each stage, such as the addition of lime or the separation of molasses, which are crucial features of the diagram. The overview is present but lacks detail, and the report would benefit from a more analytical approach to the process rather than a simple list of steps. To improve, ensure all key features are described with sufficient detail to provide a comprehensive summary.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Subsequently', and 'In the next step' provides a clear progression. However, some transitions are repetitive, and the referencing is occasionally awkward, such as in the phrase 'After filtering it purification process purified juice'. The flow is generally logical, but the mechanical nature of the linking words prevents a higher score. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring smoother sentence transitions would enhance the overall coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'manufactured', 'extracted', 'purification', and 'centrifuge' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'linear process of making sugar... has 7 steps' and 'all the water is evaporated'. The student relies on basic sentence structures and lacks the more sophisticated, precise vocabulary required for a higher band. To improve, focus on using more varied and precise terminology related to industrial processes and avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('all the crystals is collected') and missing articles ('starts with the growing sugar cane'). Additionally, some sentences are fragmented or poorly constructed, such as 'Which starts with the farming of sugar cane'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
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.