Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-15

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)

In this given diagram, it shows that how sugar is produced from sugar cane. There are 7 steps in the manufacturing which is given in diagram to produce sugar. Which includes growing, harvesting, crushing, purifying juice, evaporator, centrifuge, drying and cooling.

In the first step of growing it will take between 12 to 18 months to grow sugar canes. After that, second step is harvesting where farmer do harvesting with the help of equipment's. Furthermore in the third step sugarcanes will be crushed in machine and that machine will produce juice of sugarcanes by crushing. Fourth step is purifying juice, in which juice will be purify with the help of limestone filter. After that, fifth step is evaporator in which with the high temperature of heat, juice will becomes syrup. Sixth step is centrifuge in this step of process sugar crystals will separates from syrup and then it comes a last step which is drying and cooling of sugar.

So, there are total seven steps in the manufacturing process for making sugar from sugar cane.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all stages of the sugar production process, from growing to the final drying and cooling. However, the overview is weak; it simply lists the steps rather than highlighting the main features or the cyclical nature of the process. The description is largely a sequential list of steps, which lacks the analytical comparison required for a high band score. While the information is accurate, the response would benefit from grouping the stages (e.g., preparation, extraction, and refinement) to provide a more sophisticated summary of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'In the first step', 'After that', 'Furthermore', 'Fourth step'). The transition between sentences feels like a list rather than a cohesive report. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'that machine will produce juice', which could be more precisely linked to the crushing stage. Improved variety in linking words and better paragraph structure would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'with the high temperature of heat' (redundant) and 'it comes a last step'. The student relies heavily on basic vocabulary and repeats terms like 'step' and 'juice' frequently. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise process-related terminology, such as 'extraction', 'filtration', 'crystallization', and 'subsequent'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'In this given diagram, it shows that how sugar is produced' (unnecessary 'it' and 'that'), 'farmer do harvesting' (subject-verb agreement), and 'juice will be purify' (incorrect passive voice). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction is often clunky. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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