Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-10
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 PICTORIAL DIAGRAM DEPICTS THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING SUGAR FROM SUGAR CANE.OVERALL, IT CONSIST OF 7 MAJORS STEPS FROM FARMING THE CANE TO DRY AND COOLING THE SUGER. PROCESSES LIKE EVAPORATION, CENTRIFUGATION AND HARVESTING ARE USED IN THIS PROCEDURE.
IT STARTS WITH CROPPING THE SUGAR CANE CROP IN THE FIELDS . IT TAKES A YEAR OR A YEAR AND HALF TO CULTIVATE THE SUGAR CANE. AFTER SUGAR CANE IS FULLY CULTIVATED IT IS BEING HARVESTED. FOR HARVESTING, THERE ARE 2 METHODS BY HARVESTER OR BY MANPOWER. SUGARCANE JUICE IS PRODUCED BY PROCESS OF CRUSHING. THAN IT IS PURIFIED BY THE LIMESTONE FILTER.
MEANWHILE, PURIFIED JUICE IS CONVERTED TO SUGAR SYRUP BY EVAPORATING IT IN A VESSEL. CENTRIFUGATION PROCESS TAKES PLACE FOR SEPRATING CRYSTALS AND SYRUP. FOLLOWED BY THE FINAL STEP OF DRYING AND COOLING SUGAR CRYSTALS. AND AFTER 7 MAJORS STEPS AND MONTHS OF HARDWORK SUGAR IS FINALLY PRODUCED AND READY FOR PACKAGING.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from cultivation to the final product. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate, as it describes the process as having '7 major steps' when the diagram actually depicts a continuous flow. While the key stages like crushing, purification, and evaporation are mentioned, the description lacks sufficient detail regarding the transition between these stages. The inclusion of personal commentary, such as 'months of hard work', is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report, which requires an objective, analytical tone. To improve, focus on describing the mechanical flow of the process rather than adding subjective remarks.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'Meanwhile' is used incorrectly to describe a sequential step in a manufacturing process. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences feels a bit disjointed. While there is a logical progression from start to finish, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive sentence structures limit the overall coherence of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the reader to understand the process. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'SUGER' instead of 'sugar' and 'SEPRATING' instead of 'separating'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'process' and 'steps'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise technical terminology that would be expected in a description of a manufacturing cycle. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to industrial processes and ensure accurate spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'IT CONSIST OF' (subject-verb agreement error), 'CROPPING THE SUGAR CANE CROP' (redundant phrasing), and 'THAN IT IS PURIFIED' (incorrect use of 'than' instead of 'then'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and unnecessary capitalisation. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent punctuation will significantly improve the quality of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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