Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-12

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 above diagram illustrates the manufacturing process of making sugar is done from sugarcane.

Overall, the process consists of seven stages starting with growing of sugarcane for 12-18 months. Then ending with drying and cooling in between several stages are involved like harvesting, crushing, purifying juice, evaporator, and centrifuge.

Initially, sugarcane is grown for approximately 12-18 months until maturity. It is then harvested by manually and by machine. Then the sugarcane is crushed in crushing machine to produce juice from sugarcane.

The next stage, includes the juice is purify using a limestone filter. Then purified liquid is then heated in the evaporator, where the juice is converted into a syrup. Then the centrifuge stage where the sugar crystals are separated from syrup. Finally, then the sugar crystals is dried and cooled in special container in the warehouse and the final sugar is ready to transport to the market and for selling in the market.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all stages of the process, from the initial growth of the sugarcane to the final distribution. The overview provides a clear summary of the seven-stage process, which is a positive feature. However, the description of the stages is somewhat mechanical, listing steps rather than synthesising the information effectively. While the main features are identified, the response could be improved by grouping the stages more logically (e.g., preparation, processing, and final refinement) to show a better understanding of the flow. The inclusion of specific details like the 12-18 month growth period is accurate and relevant.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'The next stage', and 'Finally' are used to sequence the information. However, the use of these devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical. Some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as 'Then the centrifuge stage where the sugar crystals are separated from syrup', which lacks a main verb. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows smoothly into the next would elevate the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'sugarcane', 'purify', 'evaporator', and 'centrifuge' used correctly. However, there is a lack of variety and some awkward phrasing, such as 'making sugar is done from sugarcane' and 'harvested by manually and by machine'. The range is sufficient to convey the meaning, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band. Using more precise verbs and avoiding repetitive structures would improve the lexical quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'harvested by manually and by machine' is incorrect, as is 'the juice is purify' (should be 'purified'). Additionally, 'the sugar crystals is dried' shows a subject-verb agreement error. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct passive voice construction, and ensuring that every sentence has a clear, grammatically correct structure.

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

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