Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-13

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 represents manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar can itself.

Overall, it is noticeable that there are seven easy steps included through this whole process, we are going step by step to know the whole procedure in detail.

Firstly, we grow sugar cane which almost takes 12 to 18 months of time period, secondly we harvest them after their maximum growth, third they are crushed to extract the juice, forth the juice get purified with the limestone filter.

Afterword, fifth and the most important part of the method, we got a heat up the juice at 300 degree celsius so that it can be covert into syrup, after this is done the next big step is to (centrifuges), it basically means to separates sugar crystals from syrup, the final step is drying and cooling the sugar for the better taste.

This process takes 3-4 months of time period but, it is most effective and efficient way to dig out natural sugar from sugar canes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the sugar production process, from growing the cane to the final cooling stage. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole, which is a requirement for a high band score. The tone is overly informal (e.g., 'we are going step by step'), and the inclusion of personal commentary like 'for the better taste' is inappropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. Furthermore, the description of the stages is somewhat simplistic, and the claim that the process takes '3-4 months' is not supported by the provided diagram, which indicates the growth phase alone takes 12-18 months.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on simple sequencing words like 'firstly', 'secondly', and 'third'. The transition between the growth phase and the manufacturing phase is abrupt. The paragraphing is functional, but the overall progression of ideas feels a bit disjointed due to the informal, conversational style of the writing. More sophisticated linking phrases would improve the flow and logical connection between the stages of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and academic register required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'dig out natural sugar' and 'covert into syrup' (a misspelling of 'convert'). The use of 'easy steps' and 'big step' is too informal for a formal report. While the student successfully uses technical terms like 'centrifuges' and 'purified', the overall range is limited, and the word choices do not consistently demonstrate the flexibility needed to describe a technical process effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'manufacturing process for making' (missing an article), 'juice get purified' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'we got a heat up' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several comma splices where full stops or semicolons would be more appropriate. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band, as the control over complex structures is not yet secure.

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

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