Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

This diagram depicts the process of manufacturing, from sugar to sugarcane. At a glance, the process is divided into main 2 parts. First one is farming and the other one is processing.

At first step, the cultivation process. in this process the sugar cane plant takes 12 to 18 months to grow. After that, the grown sugarcane will be harvested. it could be harvested through either harvester or human. At third step, juice of sugarcane will be extracted by crushing sugarcanes. After the extraction, the juice will be transferred to limestone filter to purify the juice. Then the pure juice will goes to the evaporator where the juice will be heated and transformed into syrup. At sixth step, the syrup goes for centrifuge process where the sugar crystals will be separated from syrup. At last, the sugar will be stored in container to dry and cool down.

To sum up, from the forth step, the second part of this process initiates. All the steps after the harvesting process are require for the machinery while the steps from farming could be done by the human beings as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have successfully identified the main stages of the sugar production process. However, the response lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole, which is essential for a higher band score. While you mention the two main parts, the description of the steps is somewhat mechanical and lacks a synthesis of the information. For instance, you list the steps sequentially but do not highlight the transition from the agricultural phase to the industrial phase effectively. To improve, ensure your overview captures the essence of the transformation from raw material to finished product, and try to group the stages more logically rather than just listing them step-by-step.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is generally coherent, and the use of sequencing words like 'At first step', 'After that', and 'To sum up' helps the reader follow the progression. However, the paragraphing is slightly awkward; the second paragraph is quite long and could have been broken down to improve readability. Additionally, some cohesive devices are used in a repetitive or slightly unnatural way, such as 'in this process' and 'After the extraction'. Improving the variety of your linking phrases and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, distinct focus would enhance the logical flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used some relevant vocabulary related to the process, such as 'cultivation', 'harvested', 'extracted', 'purify', and 'centrifuge'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'manufacturing, from sugar to sugarcane' (which is logically reversed) and 'the pure juice will goes to'. The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your terminology accurately reflects the technical nature of the process described in the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'the pure juice will goes to' (subject-verb agreement), 'are require for the machinery' (passive voice error), and 'main 2 parts' (incorrect word order). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing commas and capitalization issues. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct formation of passive voice structures would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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