Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17
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 shows the producing process for making sugar form sugar cane.
Overall, making of sugar contains 7 steps form sugar cane. Initially, the first step is growing the sugar cane plants till 12 to 18 months. After this period, this plant is harvesting by farmers and machines. The crushing is third step to make juice which passes by Limestone filter, while it converts into syrup by evaporator.
To begin with, the step is to grow sugar canes plants in field almost in 12 to 18 months. After 18 months, the sugar cane crops are able to harvest. This process doing by farmers and machines. After cutting these crops, it passes to crushing which is convert into juice. This juice filter by Limestone, while it converts to purifying juice. The Evaporator is the fifth step for making sugar from sugar cane. The function of evaporator is giving heat to produced syrup. The sixth step is Centrifuge; this function performs to separates sugar crystals a from syrup. The last step is dying and cooling to sugar which is produce from Centrifuge. This step is most important for making healthy sugar.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| 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 report is repetitive, as the student describes the steps in the introduction and then repeats them in the body paragraphs. This redundancy prevents a clear, concise summary of the process. While the main features are identified, the lack of a clear, logical flow and the inclusion of unnecessary repetition mean the information is not presented as effectively as it could be. To improve, focus on grouping the stages logically (e.g., preparation, processing, and refining) rather than listing them sequentially twice.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a clear structure. The introduction effectively sets the scene, but the body paragraphs are poorly organized. The student repeats the entire process description, which creates a disjointed reading experience. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with' and 'After this period', but they are often used mechanically or to introduce redundant information. Paragraphing is present but ineffective because the second paragraph simply restates the first. A more logical progression would involve describing the process once, moving from the raw material to the final product, using clear transition signals to link the stages.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'producing process' instead of 'production process' and 'making of sugar' instead of 'sugar production'. The student relies on basic verbs like 'make' and 'give'. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'dying' (which likely refers to 'drying') and 'filter' used as a verb where 'is filtered' is required. To reach a higher band, the student should use more precise technical vocabulary related to industrial processes, such as 'extracted', 'purified', 'crystallized', and 'refined'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement and passive voice construction, such as 'this plant is harvesting' (should be 'is harvested') and 'this juice filter by Limestone' (should be 'is filtered by'). Sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is generally functional, but the misuse of articles and verb forms is persistent throughout the text. To improve, the student needs to focus on the correct formation of the passive voice, which is essential for describing processes, and ensure consistent verb tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.