Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07
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 offers insights into the production of sugar from sugar cane.
Overall it is evident the the whole process from growing to drying and cooling has been done is seven steps and every steps are very important.
At first, it takes 12-18 months for sugar cane to grow. Then after harvesting by crushing machine sugar canes are crushed to make juice. At this point the harvesting and crushing job is done.
After that, by the help of limestone filter these juice has to be purified. These purified juices are sent to a evaporator after that where juice becomes syrup by getting heat. Thereafter in the sixth phase the centrifuge process starts where by centrifuging sugars crystals come out from the syrup. In the last phase, those separated sugar crystals need to dry. After drying and cooling the product sugar is made.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response provides a basic overview of the sugar production process, identifying the main stages from growth to final cooling. However, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the key steps are mentioned, the description lacks the necessary detail and analytical depth expected for an Academic Task 1 response. The summary is somewhat superficial, and the failure to reach the minimum length means the task is not fully addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a logical sequence, following the stages of the diagram chronologically. Cohesive devices such as 'At first', 'Then', 'After that', and 'Thereafter' are used to link the steps. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is essentially one block of text, which hinders the overall structure. The progression of ideas is clear, but the mechanical use of transitions makes the flow feel somewhat repetitive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. The student uses relevant technical terms like 'centrifuge', 'evaporator', and 'limestone filter', which is positive. However, there is a lack of variety and precision. Phrases like 'job is done' and 'product sugar is made' are simplistic and do not demonstrate the range required for higher bands. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'by the help of' instead of 'using' or 'with the aid of'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('every steps are', 'these juice has to be'), article misuse ('a evaporator'), and awkward phrasing ('the whole process... has been done is seven steps'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to detract from the clarity of the report and suggest a lack of control over complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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