Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

The diagram illustrates that the production steps for making sugar from sugarcane.

Overall, grow sugarcanes than harvest it and took sugarcanes to machine. The machine convert it into juice than purifying it and after providing heating it become syrup. At last after centrifuge process it dried and the sugar is ready.

The first step of making sugar is to plant sugarcanes than after 12 to 18 month harvest it. Then harvested sugarcanes inserts into one side of machine the machine crushing the sugarcanes and the juice comes from the other side . The juice then pass through to a purifying step from limestone filter. The purified juice then placed into evaporator where the juice are heated and converted into syrup. The syrup than pass through a centrifuge process where the sugar crystals separated from the syrup and the last process is to dried these crystals and remained it for cooling thus the sugar is produced.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from growing to the final drying stage. However, the overview is somewhat weak and repetitive, merely restating the process rather than highlighting the key features or the transformation involved. While all stages are mentioned, the description lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the transition from 'syrup' to 'sugar crystals' is described, but the relationship between the centrifuge and the separation process could be more clearly articulated. The response meets the minimum requirements but lacks the analytical depth expected for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. The repeated use of 'then' and 'than' (e.g., 'than after 12 to 18 month', 'The juice then pass') creates a repetitive flow. Furthermore, some sentences are poorly linked, making the progression feel disjointed. While there is a logical sequence, the lack of varied transition words and the frequent misuse of basic connectors hinder the overall flow of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic verbs like 'making', 'convert', and 'pass'. There are frequent errors in word choice and form, such as 'grow sugarcanes' instead of 'growing sugarcane' and 'remained it' instead of 'leaving it'. The misuse of 'than' for 'then' is a persistent issue throughout the text. While the vocabulary is sufficient to describe the process, it lacks the precision and variety needed for a higher band. The student struggles to use technical terms accurately in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the machine crushing', 'the juice are heated') and tense usage. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'The syrup than pass through a centrifuge process where the sugar crystals separated from the syrup'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and incorrect sentence boundaries. The range of structures is limited, and the frequency of errors is high.

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.