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 diagram illustrates how sugar is produced from sugar cane.

Overall, the process consist of seven methods, began with growing of sugar canes for 12-18 months and ends with formation of sugar.

Initially, the sugar cane is planted this process takes 12-18 months to grow. Once they have matured, they are harvested manually or with machinery and transferred to crushing machine to extract juice. It is then purified through a limestone filter which is later heated by a evaporator, juice get converted to syrup. The next process include centrifuge where sugar crystal get separated from syrup. It is dried and cooled before producing the final product.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the main features of the sugar production process are identified, the under-length nature of the response means that the description is underdeveloped. The summary lacks sufficient detail regarding the specific stages, such as the transition between the crushing, purification, and evaporation phases. To improve, you must expand on the provided information by describing the stages in greater detail and ensuring the response meets the length requirement. The overview is present but could be more comprehensive by highlighting the key transformation stages more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. Paragraphing is used, though the body paragraph is quite dense. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once', and 'The next process' are used to guide the reader through the stages. However, the limited length restricts the ability to demonstrate a wider range of cohesive devices. To improve, ensure that each stage of the process is clearly linked with a variety of transition words and that the information is balanced across paragraphs to improve the overall flow and readability of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the task, with terms like 'harvested', 'purified', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge' correctly applied. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'process consist of seven methods' (should be 'consists of seven stages') and 'growing of sugar canes' (should be 'the growth of sugar cane'). To reach a higher band, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe industrial processes, such as 'extraction', 'subsequent', and 'refinement', while ensuring accurate collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the accuracy of the writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('process consist', 'juice get converted') and missing articles or incorrect pluralization ('growing of sugar canes', 'to crushing machine'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence variety. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles in technical descriptions, and practice combining simple sentences into more complex structures using relative clauses or passive voice, which is particularly useful for describing manufacturing processes.

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

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