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 illustration depicts how sugar is made from sugar cane and shows the entire manufacturing method step by step.

The 7-step cycle initially involves growing the sugar cane for approximately 12 to 18 months, then harvesting it by various means. The method ends by separating the crystals of sugar from the liquid with process of centrifugation, which are then dried and cooled in a container and eventually produced sugar.

Step 1 involves growing the sugar canes, which takes around 12 to 18 months to be completed. Once it is fully grown, it can be harvested either mechanically or manually by a tractor machine or a farmer, respectively. The harvested cane is then crushed inside a machine in order to obtain its juice.

In step 4, The juice is purified in a limestone filter. After the filtration process, the juice is placed in a machine called an evaporator, where it is heated and converted into a syrup. The product of evaporation is numerous sugar crystals, which are separated from the syrup by means of centrifugation. The entire cycle ends with drying and cooling the crystals, which leads to the formation of sugar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main stages of the sugar production process and provided a clear overview. You covered the process from the initial growth phase through to the final product. However, the response could be improved by better highlighting the 'main features' in the overview. For example, you mention '7-step cycle' but the diagram shows 8 distinct stages. Additionally, the description of the final stage is slightly inaccurate; the diagram shows the sugar being dried and cooled, not 'produced' as a separate step. To reach a higher band, ensure that your summary accurately reflects the visual information provided without adding external assumptions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and a step-by-step progression that follows the diagram. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the initial stages from the later processing stages. Cohesive devices such as 'initially', 'once', 'then', and 'after' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the second paragraph ('which are then dried') is slightly ambiguous as it refers back to the crystals mentioned in the previous sentence. Overall, the flow is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using process-specific terms like 'centrifugation', 'evaporator', and 'purified'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'produced sugar' (should be 'sugar is produced') and 'by various means' (which is vague). You also use 'the method ends' and 'the entire cycle ends' in close proximity, which is slightly repetitive. To improve, try to vary your verbs and ensure that your phrasing sounds more natural in a technical context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Once it is fully grown, it can be harvested...' and 'The juice is placed in a machine... where it is heated...'. While most of your sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips. For example, 'which are then dried and cooled... and eventually produced sugar' is grammatically awkward. Additionally, there is a capitalization error in 'In step 4, The juice...' and a missing article in 'with process of centrifugation'. Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not impede communication.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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